Tag: Ilya Samsonov

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Maple Leafs give update on Matt Murray’s condition

SaltWire

The Toronto Maple Leafs are firmly in control of their Round 1 Stanley Cup Playoffs series against the Tampa Bay Lightning, having shocked them in both Games 3 and 4 at Amalie Arena with comeback overtime victories; the latter of which featured a three-goal comeback in the third period. 

Goaltender Ilya Samsonov has rebounded from a poor Game 1 outing, racking up three straight victories and outplaying former Conn Smythe Trophy winner Andrei Vasilevskiy. And while Joseph Woll has been serving as the backup for far in the postseason, the Leafs are working on getting veteran Matt Murray back into playing shape.

Murray, who hasn’t played since suffering a concussion earlier this month after being accidentally taken down by Red Wings forward Lucas Raymond in a late regular season game, was on the ice at Toronto’s training facility working with the development staff: 

“He is making progress to the point where he is on the ice,” explained head coach Sheldon Keefe. “He has been working mostly in recovery mode on his own. Now, he is starting to take shots from players in more game-like situations. It is steady progress there.”

During the regular season, Murray posted a record of 14-8-2 record with a 3.01 goals against average and .903 save percentage. 

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Sheldon Keefe hits back at reporters

Salt Wire

The Toronto Maple Leafs find themselves leading their Round 1 Stanley Cup Playoffs series against the Tampa Bay Lightning two games to one following their overtime victory on Saturday night at Amalie Arena. And not only did 2019 Conn Smythe Trophy winner Ryan O’Reilly play a major role in the win by netting the game-tying goal late in regulation, but goaltender Ilya Samsonov turned in arguably his finest career postseason performance. 

Samsonov made 36 saves, including shutting down several Grade A scoring chances by Tampa Bay in the third period and in overtime, perhaps none bigger than denying Russian sniper Nikita Kucherov. However, media members were a bit puzzled when Samsonov wasn’t made available to speak to them after the game. 

However, Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe wasn’t in the mood to get into why that decision was made, instead offering a sarcastic quip in response. 

“Have you been talking to (Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Andrei) Vasilevskiy in this series?” Keefe replied when asked why Samsonov wasn’t available to talk afterward. 

A reporter then hit back by saying that Toronto media members don’t typically speak to the Maple Leafs opposition, Keefe had this to say: 

“Let’s just let them play goal,” he said. 

Game 4 between the Lightning and Maple Leafs is tonight from Amalie Arena starting at 7:30 PM EST. 

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Ilya Samsonov yanked after allowing six goals in Game 1

The Toronto Star

Ilya Samsonov earned the starter’s role for the Toronto Maple Leafs between the pipes to start their crucial first round postseason series against the Tampa Bay Lightning. And unfortunately for him and the rest of the team, the first game didn’t go remotely according to plan.

The Lightning jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first period thanks to goals from Pierre-Edouard Bellemare, Anthony Cirelli and Nikita Kucherov. While the Leafs were able to battle back with a pair of power play goals in the second period to cut the deficit to one, postseason assassin Brayden Point would tally twice while veteran Corey Perry scoring one of his own, making it sox goals on the scoreboard for the visiting Bolts. 

That would be it for Samsonov, as he was pulled after the second period in favor of Joseph Woll. He would finish the night having allowed six goals on 29 shots against by the Lightning.

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Ilya Samsonov admits the truth after brutal Game 1 performance

TSN

Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Ilya Samsonov had himself a particularly brutal night in net during last night’s opening game of his team’s Eastern Conference Run 1 postseason series opener against the defending Eastern Conference champion Tampa Bay Lightning.

After allowing six goals through the first 40 minutes of play, Samsonov was yanked from action in favor of Joseph Woll; he would watch the rest of the game from the bench. And he knows that he must be better in Game 2 Thursday night if the Leafs are to have a chance to finally break their lengthy postseason drought.

“I will be better. I played like s**t today,” Samsonov said, per TSN’s Chris Johnston.

The good news is that Samsonov had himself a strong regular season in his first year with the Leafs, posting a record of 27-10-5 with a 2.33 goals against average and a .919 save percentage. The bad news is that the setback dropped his postseason record to a less than spectacular 1-7, with an inflated 3.45 goals-against average and .895 save percentage. 

Game 2 between the Maple Leafs and Lightning is tomorrow night from Scotiabank Arena.

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Sheldon Keefe addresses starting goalie for Game 2

Maple Leafs / press conference

Toronto Maple Leafs goalie Ilya Samsonov wasn’t the only one to blame for the humiliating 7-3 loss at the hands of the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 1 of their first-round series on Tuesday night. However, giving six goals over two periods before giving up your crease to rookie Joseph Woll for the last frame isn’t the way for the Maple Leafs to win this series and finally move on to Round 2.

“I will play better. I played like (expletive) today,” Samsonov admitted after the loss.

This, of course, prompted reporters to immediately asked head coach Sheldon Keefe about his plan in between the pipes for Game 2 on Thursday night.

Keefe kept his cool, contrary to during the contest thanks to questionable calls by the officials, and make this statement:

“It’s too early to know.”

Keefe was noncommittal about who he will put in net on Thursday after Game 1. I love the young Woll and what he’s done for Toronto in the last stretch of the regular season, but the playoffs are an entirely different game. While he managed to stay confident for the last period of Game 1, I wouldn’t want him to deal with the pressure of Game 2 on Thursday.

On Wednesday, Keefe finally confirmed that Samsonov will be back in net to start Game 2 against the Bolts tomorrow night.

“Sammy’s going in net for sure.” – Sheldon Keefe

That’s the right call, right? Right? 

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Ilya Samsonov makes a bold statement about his Maple Leafs.

Steve Russell/Toronto Star

The Toronto Maple Leafs are now just days away from the start of the Stanley Cup playoffs and there will be a ton of pressure on this team to deliver after failing to do so many times in recent history.

While that may be a burden on some players, it would appear that at least some of the members of the Maple Leafs roster are welcoming those expectations as the playoffs draw near. On Saturday, Maple Leafs goaltender Ilya Samsonov was asked about his expectations headed into the Stanley Cup playoffs, and he could not possibly have set the bar any higher. When asked if he felt the Leafs were the best team in the league, Samsonov left no doubt.

“Oh for sure,” answered the Maple Leafs netminder as per TSN, without a hint of doubt in his voice.

Asked to expound on why he felt that way, Samsonov’s comments grew even bolder.

“Because we have a nice group,” said Samsonov matter of factly. “We have the best doctors, best therapists. best workout coaches, we have the best coaches, we have the best players here.” 

Although some may scoff at the confidence from Samsonov given the team’s relative lack of playoff success in recent years, it may be a much needed boost of confidence for a team that has fallen in the first round of the playoffs, or the qualifying round in the case of the bubble playoffs, in six consecutive seasons.

It’s worth noting that Samsonov wasn’t a part of those previous teams either, having only joined the Maple Leafs this season, and his confidence may be a reflection of the fact that he didn’t experience some of the heartbreaking losses that other members of his team have.

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Maple Leafs forced to sign a new goalie for cap reasons.

The Toronto Maple Leafs have been forced to sign a new goalie due to salary cap constraints.

Earlier today we detailed how the Maple Leafs may have backed themselves into something of a goaltending crisis of their own making, and it seems that what once was only a possibility has now become a reality.

According to the latest from Maple Leafs beat reporter Lance Hornby, the Maple Leafs have now signed goaltender Jett Alexander for the purpose of having him play backup to Maple Leafs goaltender Ilya Samsonov tonight. This means that, despite what the Leafs were hoping for, veteran goaltender Matt Murray is still not healthy enough to play since suffering his latest in a long series of injuries this season.

23 year old Alexander most recently played for the University of Toronto where he had a 2.21 goals against average and a .927 save percentage over 22 games this season, but of course the NHL would be a major leap up in competition. In all likelihood we won’t see Alexander hit the ice tonight barring any major catastrophes for the Leafs, but it will no doubt make for a great experience and a nice payday for the young man.

The Leafs likely would have prefered to use Joseph Woll in this scenario, but they have called up Wayne Simmonds for what is believed to be his final home game in a Maple Leafs uniform, and they would be unable to fit Woll under the salary cap given the addition of Simmonds’ cap hit.

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Chris Wideman slams the Maple Leafs for using EBUG on Saturday.

Eric Bolte/USA TODAY Sports

The Montreal Canadiens and the Toronto Maple Leafs played out what was a relatively meaningless game for both teams on Saturday night, with the playoff fates of both teams already decided long before the game took place.

In spite of the fact that it was not an important game, it turned into something of an embarrassing one for the Canadiens who were blown out by the Maple Leafs by a final score of 7-1. In fact the Maple Leafs were so far ahead during the game that, in the final minute of play they decided to give emergency backup goalie Jett Alexander a chance to get a taste of the National Hockey League.

It was most definitely a feel good moment for the 23 year old amateur goalie from the University of Toronto, but it would seem that the decision to use Alexander did not sit well with everyone.

Following the game, NHL veteran Chris Wideman would publicly call out the Maple Leafs for using Alexander during the game, even going so far as to suggest that Karma would be coming Toronto’s way in short order.

“They’ll get what they deserve in a few weeks,” said a frustrated Wideman.

Wideman’s comments came off as nothing more than sour grapes after a bad loss and they stand in stark contrast to the comments we heard from the Maple Leafs on the topic. Maple Leafs goaltender Ilya Samsonov, who had to give up his net in the final minute in order for Alexander to have his moment in the first place, was just beaming at the thought of giving a young man such a special moment.

“I’m so happy for him. Great to see this moment,” said Samsonov following the game,. “First NHL game, doesn’t matter it one minute, but big for him. He come to the rink to probably sit on the bench, but he has the time for play. Thank you team, we got a chance for another dream in the world”

Samsonov’s imperfect English makes the quote all that much more endearing and you can tell that the Russian goaltender was genuinely thrilled for his temporary teammate.

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Potential goaltending crisis for the Maple Leafs on Saturday.

The Toronto Maple Leafs have a potential goaltending crisis on their hands, one that appears to be of their own making.

On Friday, the Maple Leafs announced that they would be sending goaltender Joseph Woll back down to the American Hockey League and the Toronto Marlies, a move that was announced in conjunction with the callup of veteran forward Wayne Simmonds.

There is a belief that the move was made out of a desire to give the aging veteran in Simmonds one final game in front of the hometown Toronto crowd, a feel good idea to be sure. Unfortunately it may be one that has left the Leafs in somewhat of a pickle on Saturday.

Maple Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe has now confirmed that the plan was originally to have Matt Murray serve as backup for goaltender Ilya Samsonov tonight, a plan that may be in jeopardy due to Murray’s injury status. Not only did Keefe confirm that Murray’s status for tonight was now a question mark, but he also added that he was unsure of what the Leafs would do in the event of Murray being unable to play.

This is certainly a less than ideal situation for the Maple Leafs, and we will have to wait and see how it all plays out as the day wears on.

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Leafs hit the ice for LGBTQ+ celebrations, but one player refuses to participate

Toronto Maple Leafs

UPDATE: The Toronto Maple Leafs have hit the ice at Scotiabank Arena for tonight’s Pride Night game against the Columbus Blue Jackets wearing rainbow coloured decals on their helmets/masks. All save for goaltender Ilya Samsonov who has elected to not wear anything that promotes the LGBTQ+ community.

Read below for our earlier report on this developing story.

The Toronto Maple Leafs will celebrate the LGBTQ+ community this evening when they take on the Columbus Blue Jackets for their annual Pride Night.

Incidentally, the Leafs will NOT wear a special Pride themed warmup jersey for the evening, but this isn’t a change in their protocol as they’ve never worn anything other than their usual warmup jerseys. They will however be sporting special helmet decals for the entirety of the game and will feature special messages on the arena video screen during stoppages in play. The organization has held Pride Night celebrations since 2017. Head coach Sheldon Keefe and defeneman Morgan Rielly both donned a rainbow-themed t-shirt during media availability this morning.

“I believe actions speak louder than words,” Rielly said Tuesday. “And especially speak louder than attire.”

Yesterday, the St. Louis Blues announced that they had changed their plans for Pride Night and had ditched the rainbow-themed warmup jerseys that the team was scheduled to wear. The Minnesota Wild and Chicago Blackhawks also elected to drop their own jerseys after concerns that their Russian born players would face legal problems in Russia for “supporting non-normal lifestyles”. The Russian government recently instituted new laws regarding LGBTQ rights and the promotion of what they call “alternative sexualities”. Philadelphia Flyers defenceman Ivan Provorov, San Jose Sharks goalie James Reimer, Eric and Marc Staal of the Florida Panthers, Buffalo Sabres blue-liner Ilya Lyubushkin and Vancouver Canucks forward Andrei Kuzmenko have all opted out of Pride celebrations citing religious and political reasons.

My thoughts on this matter have been well stated on this website. I believe that the NHL should do away with every ‘special interest’ evening, including Pride Night. That means Military Appreciation Night and Law Enforcement Appreciation night too. These causes, along with LGBTQ+ causes, have become too politicized and are just dripping with drama. To me, hockey is just hockey. Nothing more. I don’t tune into a hockey game or buy tickets so that I can be part of Pride celebrations or to witness the glorification of war. Just drop the puck and let’s smash some teeth already. Anyone else with me?