Maple Leafs Want 'More Saves at Critical Times', Signaling a Likely Change to Joseph Woll in Goal For Game 5 Against Bruins
Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe didn't want to tip his hand, but stressed that the goaltending needs to be better.
Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe did not name a starting goaltender for Game 5, but signs point to Jospeh Woll perhaps making his first start of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Woll subbed in for Ilya Samsonov in the third period of the team's 3-1 loss to the Boston Bruins on Saturday. Woll only saw five shots but saved all of them.
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The Maple Leafs held practice on Monday and Woll didn't stay out late as he typically has done when it's known he's slated for backup duty the following day.
Ilya Samsonov is 1-3 with an .883 save percentage. Keefe explained following Saturday's loss that part of the change was made to change the momentum of the game.
"Sammy's done well in the series. He's bounced back at times when we needed him to," Keefe said following the club's practice on Monday. "But there are areas we need to get better in for sure. Getting more saves at critical times is a big part of that. They're obviously getting lots at the other end."
Bruins goaltender Jeremy Swayman is a perfect 6-0-0 this past year against the Maple Leafs if you including the regular season. He has a .956 in his three starts during the series.
Samsonov isn't solely to blame for the Maple Leafs staring down elimination from the playoffs while down 3-1 in their best-of-seven series with the Bruins. Special teams hasn't been great with Toronto going 1-for-14 on the power play. The offense has only generated seven goals in the series.
But it's clear the Leafs are ready to see what Woll can do. He has experience in the postseason, filling in an injured Samsonov as the starter for Games 4 and 5 against the Florida Panthers last year. Woll posted a .915 save percentage in four postseason appearances.
"Special teams and goaltending are two areas that we need to be better in and they're connected in a lot of ways," Keefe said.
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