While the schedules of professional athletes don’t change due to personal circumstances, Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Ilya Samsonov is doing the best that he can of trying to balance his job of performing at top level for his team between the pipes as the postseason approaches along with the realities of being a brand new father.
He and his wife Maria welcomed their first child earlier this month, a son they named Miroslav.
“Probably the best week in my life,” Samsonov explained. “A lot of emotion, last four days we stay all together and at home is unbelievable. I feel perfect. When he comes on my skin, you feel so warmy. He’s so cute.”
Meanwhile, Samsonov has also been absent from the lineup due to a minor injury that he suffered in late February.
“We figured out my injury because we had time,” Samsonov shared, adding, “I feel perfect, it doesn’t hurt anymore. I think I’m 100 percent.”
The first year Leafs goaltender is 24-9-4 with a 2.47 goals against average and .913 save percentage along with three shutouts.