The Toronto Maple Leafs brilliantly stopped an ugly four-game losing streak by coming back from a deficit to beat the Tampa Bay Lightning on Monday, but that success somewhat obscures Ilya Samsonov’s enormous struggles.
The Russian goalkeeper was also on the bench in the first period after conceding four goals from twelve shots. Trailing 4-1 and quite unhappy, he left the ice to boo at Scotiabank Arena, with the crowd visibly losing patience with the 26-year-old. Because it has to be said that his problems are not new. In the 2023 playoffs, Joseph Woll got the better of him while he has a goals-against average of 4.11 and an efficiency percentage of 0.855 this season. In his last four appearances, Samsonov was substituted twice, each against the “Bolts”.
His poor performance could prompt head coach Sheldon Keefe to turn to Woll more often. Additionally, veteran Martin Jones plays for the Toronto Marlies, the organization’s farm club in the American Hockey League.
“It wasn’t that bad during that time. “The puck just kept going into the net,” the coach commented on his goalkeeper’s performance that day to the Toronto Star newspaper.
In use despite everything?
However, Keefe might still be tempted to use the former Washington Capitals player in hopes that he can find his touch. Woll has maintained a .930 save percentage and 2.30 average so far, but he won’t be able to do it all on his own. A good team that wants to win in the National League always needs two confident men to defend their cage.
“He has to play. You need two guys who are great. “Woll played very well for us, but we have to give Sammy every opportunity to improve his game,” the pilot told The Hockey News magazine last week, commenting on Samsonov’s presence on the ice during Thursday’s hockey game against the Boston Bruins to justify .
The Leafs host the Ottawa Senators on Wednesday. This will be the third of five home games.