Matt Murray led his team out for warmup for his scheduled start, but it was Ilya Samsonov who led the team out before the anthem started.
Ilya Samsonov became the first Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender this season to make five consecutive starts in goal this season in unexpected fashion when he was thrust into starting duties that initially belonged to Matt Murray.
"He's been dealing with something that flared up on him tonight," Maple Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe said of the late switch. "So that's why he was unable to play.
Although Murray was on the team's bench to watch the game, he was not available to play, according to Keefe. An emergency backup goaltender would have had to go in in place of Samsonov had the Russian been hurt.
Samsonov was initially given the night off to rest after making four starts. Keefe admitted earlier in the day that the team was pushing it by going with the red-hot Samsonov on Wednesday against the New York Rangers.
Murray hasn't seen the net since allowing four goals on eight shots on Jan. 17 against the Florida Panthers. Samsonov came on in relief of Murray that night and made 11 saves on 11 shots in a 5-4 comeback overtime victory.
Keefe wouldn't say what Murray's injury is other than it wasn't a new ailment. But it wasn't related to the adductor injury he suffered earlier in the season.
Samsonov sustained his first home regulation loss of the season as Toronto fell to Ottawa 6-2.
More to come...