Samsonov was on the ice after being removed after leaving Saturday's game against the Edmonton Oilers.
Samsonov was on the ice after being removed after leaving Saturday's game against the Edmonton Oilers.
Ilya Samsonov was back on the ice with the Toronto Maple Leafs' return-to-play staff just days removed from an injury scare on Saturday.
Late in the third period, Samsonov was forced to leave the club's 6-3 win against the Edmonton Oilers in obvious discomfort. Third-string goaltender Martin Jones was forced to finish off the game.
After the game Maple Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe said the goaltender would be "fine". That much was evident as the goaltender was back to his usual form.
"He hadn't skated in the last couple of days. Today is a chance for him to just sort of work his way back into the mix," Keefe said on Tuesday morning." And at this point, based on how things went today, we're expecting him in practice tomorrow and then take it from there."
Joseph Woll will start in goal for the Maple Leafs against the Devils on Tuesday just two days removed from his busiest start of the season.
Woll made 41 saves on 43 shots in a 2-1 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes on Sunday.
"I think if last game was any indication he's building momentum and kind of getting back into a groove," Keefe said of Woll. "I think that's why it was important to get him back in the net tonight."
Samsonov and Woll are battling it out to see who will become the starter for the playoffs when they begin next month. The lead contender has changed at various points of the season based on injury and performance.
Woll is 10-8-1 this season with a .912 save percentage. He has played in just four games over the last month since returning from a high-ankle sprain that kept for nearly three months.
Samsonov's record is 19-6-7 with an .889 save percentage, however, he has 5-1-1 with a .915 save percentage in March, performing well after struggling for the first half of the regular season.
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