The Toronto Maple Leafs held their final practice of their regular season opener. Fraser Minten and Noah Gregor earn spots in the opening-night lineup. BOSTON — Although Joseph Woll has performed well throughout the last couple of weeks, Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe has elected to start Ilya Samsonov in goal against the Boston Bruins at TD Garden on Thursday. "He needs to play," Keefe said of the decision. "You need to have both guys thriving. Woll has played very well for us but we also need to make sure we're giving Sammy every opportunity to grow his game." Samsonov started this season as the club's No. 1 goaltender after an impressive first season with the club where posted a .919 save percentage. But this season, the 26-year-old has struggled between the pipes. The lowest point came on Oct. 21 when Samsonov allowed three goals on four shots. Woll came in and made 27 saves on 27 shots to help the Leafs pull off a comeback 4-3 overtime victory against the Tampa Bay Lightning. During the Leafs' morning skate, the Russian goaltender was wearing the same mask he wore throughout the 2022-23 season. The goaltender first changed his mask away from the Curtis Joseph/Vesa Toskala-inspired design for his start against the Nashville Predators. He made 21 saves on 24 shots. "He's battling and I felt like he took a good step in Nashville," Keefe explained. Woll has been stellar in net for Toronto with a 3-2-0 record and a .949 save percentage. But he allowed four goals on 27 shots in a 4-1 loss to the Los Angeles Kings on Tuesday. Samsonov can build on his confidence against a severely depleted Bruins club that will be without defensemen Charlie McAvoy (serving a suspension after a check to the head of Florida Panthers defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson), Matthew Grzelcyk (upper-body injury) and Derek Forbort (undisclosed). Following his last performance in net, Samsonov was visibly downbeat about his performance against the Predators. When he returned home, he was in better spirits following Monday's practice. "I feel like I'm the right way right now, everything is good," Samsonov said. He also explained his reasons for changing the mask. "I just want to change it up," he explained. "I'm not superstitious, but I want to do it." Image [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjAwNTk1MTUxMDE2NDM2ODQ0/cf1808c0-6a82-4298-9049-3eb2eae105b0.jpg] Related 'I'm Never Retiring': Maple Leafs' Auston Matthews Looks Back on Playing With Joe Thornton Who Joked That He Would Never Hang Up His Skates [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs/latest-news/im-never-retiring-maple-leafs-auston-matthews-looks-back-on-playing-with-joe-thornton-who-joked-that-he-would-never-hang-up-his-skates] Maple Leafs Hope to 'Go In And Get A Response' in Boston Against Bruins, Lineups, Where to Watch [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs/game-day/maple-leafs-hope-to-go-in-and-get-a-response-in-boston-against-bruins-lineups-where-to-watch] Maple Leafs' Jake McCabe Will Remain Out Against the Bruins With a Groin Injury and it is 'Unlikely' he Returns Before the Weekend [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs/latest-news/maple-leafs-jake-mccabe-will-remain-out-against-the-bruins-with-a-groin-injury-and-it-is-unlikely-he-returns-before-the-weekend] News from THN.com Screen Shots: Ottawa Senators, Lane Hinkley, Ryan O'Reilly [https://thehockeynews.com/news/screen-shots-ottawa-senators-lane-hinkley-ryan-oreilly] THN On The 'Q': QMJHL Players to Watch and Alumni with Red Wings [https://thehockeynews.com/podcast/thn-on-the-q-qmjhl-players-to-watch-and-alumni-with-red-wings] Ottawa Senators to Fire GM Pierre Dorion: Reports [https://thehockeynews.com/news/ottawa-senators-to-fire-gm-pierre-dorion-reports]
