After being pulled after two periods in Game 1, the former Washington netminder is getting another chance for Toronto.

The Washington Capitals saw both of their former netminders get off to a rough start to their 2023 Stanley Cup Playoff runs, as Vitek Vanecek and Ilya Samsonov both had a tough go in respective Game 1 losses. Samsonov's struggles were more prominent in the Toronto Maple Leafs' 7-3 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning, but he's getting a second chance.

Head coach Sheldon Keefe told reporters on Wednesday that Samsonov will remain the team's starting netminder and that he will get the nod for Game 2.

"Sammy's going in net for sure," Keefe said, via Sportsnet's Luke Fox.

The 26-year-old stopped just 23 of 29 shots (.793 save percentage) through the first 40 minutes of play before being pulled for Justin Woll.

"I play like shit," Samsonov told the media postgame.

Samsonov is coming off a strong bounceback season, though, as he went 27-10-5 with a .919 SV% and 2.33 GAA through 40 starts in the regular season. He signed a one-year, $1.8 million "prove-it" deal with Toronto free agency.

The Russian had been with the Capitals organization since 2015, but amid struggles, inconsistency, injuries and COVID-19, he could never find traction as the starting netminder.

In 39 regular-season games for Washington last season, Samsonov went 23-12-5 with a .896 SV% and 3.02 GAA.

He was the No. 2 going into the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs, but took over for Vanecek in Game 3 of the first-round series against the Florida Panthers. He had a strong showing to start, but his play dropped off as the team suffered its fourth consecutive first-round exit.

After parting ways with Samsonov and Vanecek, the Capitals brought in Darcy Kuemper and Charlie Lindgren to take over the crease.

Samsonov and the Leafs face the Lightning again on Thursday at 7 p.m. in Toronto.