Can Ilya Samsonov provide the level of goaltending required to defeat the Bruins?
Can Ilya Samsonov provide the level of goaltending required to defeat the Bruins?
BOSTON — When the calendar flipped from 2023 to 2024, it was unfathomable to think that Ilya Samsonov would be at the top of the Toronto Maple Leafs' goaltending depth chart.
But on Saturday night, Samsonov is projected to get the assignment in goal when the Maple Leafs visit the Boston Bruins in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
"I think we're in a good spot right now," Samsonov said on Friday. "We're ready."
Samsonov struggled hard to begin his sophomore season with the Maple Leafs. After helping backstop the club to their first playoff-round victory in 19 years in 2023, an off-season that went to arbitration followed by a sluggish few starts had him questioning his ability.
Joseph Woll quickly moved past Samsonov on the team's depth chart in the early going, but on Dec. 7, the American goaltender sustained a high-ankle injury that sidelined the player for nearly three months.
When they needed Samsonov, he continued to struggle and was placed on waivers on Jan. 1.
Samsonov worked his way back and had a tremendous March where he went 8-1-1 while posting a .926 save percentage.. He used the help of a mental healthy consultant to remove the mental block that had been preventing him from replicating his previous success a process he started while away from the Leafs in January.
As Samsonov gets set to try and help backstop the Leafs to another series victory, the goaltender chose not to reflect on the past and kept his focus on staying mentally prepared.
"I will be talking with my (mental health consultant)who's helping for me, as they say," Samsonov said. Yeah and we'll get some plan, too. You know like, we'll get some emotion up and down, yeah. And, yeah, we'll figure it out."
Although Samsonov appeared to have put his past struggles in the rearview mirror, his last two starts this season weren't pretty. Samsonov allowed 11 goals in on 52 shots and during the club's 5-4 overtime loss to the Detroit Red Wings on April 13, Maple Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe said there was a debate among the coaching staff. whether they should pull him to start the second period after allowing four first-period goals.
To Samsonov's credit, he was able to help the Leafs get one point by being solid the rest of the way. But you have to wonder how short the leash will be on the Russian goalie if he struggles in the playoff opener on Saturday.
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