The Toronto Maple Leafs' goaltender left Sunday's game after a collision at the net early in the second period.
The Toronto Maple Leafs' goaltender left Sunday's game after a collision at the net early in the second period.
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — With all the bad news surrounding the Toronto Maple Leafs and their 3-0 series deficit with the Florida Panthers, the club got some good news on Ilya Samsonov on Monday.
"Sammy's feeling better today, so that's positive," Maple Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe said in a Zoom availability on Monday. "He is going to get some tests and an MRI done today to have a better idea of what's happening with him."
Samsonov was injured in the opening minute of the second period when teammate Luke Schenn lost his footing while defending Florida Panthers forward Carter Verhaeghe and slid into Samsonov.
Joseph Woll came on in relief of Samsonov and made 18 saves on 21 shots in a 3-2 overtime loss to the Panthers. Toronto finds themselves down 3-0 in their second-round series with Florida.
As the Maple Leafs wait for more information on Samsonov, it sounds like Woll would be the option over goaltender Matt Murray, who has served as the team's third option since returning from a concussion suffered in April.
"We've got some time both here today and tomorrow to see where he's at," Keefe said of Samsonov. "In terms of Joe, we've got great confidence in him and wasn't phased when he went in the net yesterday and he backed that up with his performance."
The 26-year-old Samsonov helped guide the club to their first playoff series victory in 19 years after defeating the Tampa Bay Lightning in six games. Against the Panthers, however, it's been a different story, posting an .877 save percentage in the
Woll made his playoff debut in Game 1 against the Lightning when Samsonov was pulled after two periods.
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