Samsonov made his first start in a week and helped his team pick up an overtime loss. That would normally be ok. But these aren't normal times for the goaltender.
Samsonov made his first start in a week and helped his team pick up an overtime loss. That would normally be ok. But these aren't normal times for the goaltender.
NASHVILLE — Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe said that Ilya Samsonov should feel good about the way he performed in a 3-2 overtime loss against the Nashville Predators on Saturday.
"There’s a few really good chances where it felt like the Sammy of last season," Keefe said. "It’s a good effort from him tonight. He did his job and gave us a chance to win, we just didn’t score enough for him."
There was a palpable tension leading into this scheduled start for Samsonov. On Friday, the Russian netminder spoke candidly about the mental struggles he was going through with his game.
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D-QpXAklfUc[/embed]
This game was big to try and help him get his confidence back. And despite how his coach feels Samsonov should feel, It was clear the Samsonov was not happy based on the dour tone following the game.
While acknowledging he felt better and that he thought it was a step forward, he made a point to apologize for the first goal he gave up, a Ryan O'Reilly shot that went right between his legs and tied the game 1-1 in the first period.
"I watched this goal, I need to go to butterfly right away I didn’t see his stick," Samsonov said. "My bad, I’m sorry."
He finished the night with 21 saves on 24 shots and wasn't tested often against a Predators team that is still looking to find their identity this season.
In the second period, Samsonov looked more comfortable in the net and showed signs of progress.
"Second and third I feel my game. It’s good for me," he said.
But it's clear no matter what he says that Samsonov isn't happy with how things went. It was still a game in which he posted an .875 save percentage. His save percentage improved modestly from .831 to .841 on the season.
If the game ended in a win, he likely would have felt better.
In the third period, Samsonov prevented disaster when he made a save off Yakov Trenin.
Earlier in the week, Samsonov ditched a mask he had made this season that resembled Curtis Joseph and Vesa Toskala's mask for a design similar to the one he wore last season.
When asked if he was just trying to change things up, he was pretty definitive about it.
"Yeah, no more CuJo, that's it," he said.
After 11 days away from home, Samsonov will likely take solace in the fact that he can be with his wife Maria and son Miroslav.
The Leafs play on Tuesday against the Los Angeles Kings. Given how strong Joseph Woll has been in net this season and a lack of back-to-back games coming up, it could be more than a week this time before Samsonov gets the net again.
But if Samsonov is to be counted on in net as an option, the Leafs need to continue to be strategic about finding games to get him into.
A 3-2 overtime loss should bring out the sombre tone that came out of Samsonov like it did on Saturday. He needs a win and the Leafs need to find him one fast.
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