Maple Leafs' Ilya Samsonov: Feeling ready for 2023-24
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Samsonov (neck) took part in Thursday's practice and is feeling good ahead of the 2023-24 campaign, per David Alter of Sports Illustrated.
Samsonov missed the final two games of Toronto's playoff run because of a neck injury and also battled shoulder issues during the 2022-23 regular season. He feels like he's in better shape than he was last season, though. Samsonov had a 27-10-5 record, 2.33 GAA and .919 save percentage in 42 regular-season contests last year.
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Maple Leafs' Ilya Samsonov: Lands one-year deal
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Samsonov (neck) was awarded a one-year, $3.55 million contract with Toronto on Sunday by an independent arbitrator.
Samsonov, who sat out the final two games of Toronto's playoff run due to a neck injury, will be eligible for unrestricted free agency after the 2023-24 campaign. In 42 games last season, he posted a 27-10-5 record with a 2.33 GAA and a .919 save percentage. Samsonov will likely enter this year as the Maple Leafs' No. 1 netminder.
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Maple Leafs' Ilya Samsonov: Practicing on his own Friday
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Samsonov (upper body) was practicing on his own Friday, Mike Stephens of SI Now reports.
Samsonov has already been ruled out of action for Game 5 versus Florida on Friday. This is the first time he has returned to the ice since suffering the injury in Game 3 on Sunday. Samsonov is 4-4 in the postseason with a 3.13 GAA and .898 save percentage. His stats in the regular season were better, as he was 27-10-5 with a 2.33 GAA and .919 save percentage. Joseph Woll will get the start in goal in Game 5 for the Maple Leafs.
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Maple Leafs' Ilya Samsonov: Out Friday
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Samsonov (upper body) will miss Game 5 against Florida on Friday, Joshua Clipperton of The Canadian Press reports.
Samsonov didn't play Wednesday after sustaining the injury during Sunday's 3-2 overtime loss to Florida. He's 4-4 with a 3.13 GAA and an .898 save percentage in nine playoff contests this year. With Samsonov unavailable, Joseph Woll is expected to start Friday.
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Maple Leafs' Ilya Samsonov: Unavailable Wednesday
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Samsonov (upper body) won't be available for Game 4 against Florida on Wednesday, Mark Masters of TSN reports.
Samsonov, who is considered day-to-day, didn't take part in practice Tuesday. He left Sunday's 3-2 overtime loss to the Panthers early in the second period following a collision with defenseman Luke Schenn. Samsonov has a 4-4 record this postseason with a 3.13 GAA and an .898 save percentage in nine appearances. Joseph Woll will be backed up by Matt Murray on Wednesday in a must-win contest for the Maple Leafs.
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Maple Leafs' Ilya Samsonov: Being evaluated
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Samsonov (undisclosed) is still being evaluated, David Alter of Sports Illustrated reports.
Samsonov, who is apparently feeling better Monday, is scheduled to undergo some tests as well as an MRI. He left Sunday's game against Florida early in the second period following a collision with teammate Luke Schenn. If Samsonov isn't available to play Wednesday in Game 4 versus the Panthers, Joseph Woll or Matt Murray will get the nod in a must-win contest for the Maple Leafs.
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Maple Leafs' Ilya Samsonov: No update after game
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There was no update on Samsonov (undisclosed) after Sunday's Game 3 loss against Florida, Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet reports.
Samsonov was injured just after the second period began and did not return to the contest. His status should be monitored over the coming days; if he's unable to start Game 4 on Wednesday, Joseph Woll will likely start while Matt Murray serves as the backup.
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Maple Leafs' Ilya Samsonov: Exits Sunday's game
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Samsonov (undisclosed) left during the second period of Sunday's game against the Panthers, Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet reports.
Samsonov was involved in a collision during the first minute of the second period. Prior to exiting the game, he stopped all eight shots he faced. Samsonov was replaced by Joseph Woll.
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Maple Leafs' Ilya Samsonov: Guarding cage Sunday
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Samsonov will get the starting nod in Florida for Game 3 on Sunday, Jameson Olive of the Panthers' official site reports.
Samsonov and the Maple Leafs are facing a 2-0 series deficit and now they're set for two road games. The 26-year-old stopped a combined 50 of 57 shots in the first two games. Through eight postseason appearances, Samsonov has posted a lackluster .895 save percentage and 3.27 GAA.
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Maple Leafs' Ilya Samsonov: Betrayed by queasy team play
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Samsonov made 26 saves in a 3-2 loss to Florida in Game 2 on Thursday.
The goals were more on his teammates than Samsonov. The first came in the first period following a giveaway behind the net. The puck quickly got fed out on the opposite side and Sammy had no chance with Anton Lundell right in front of him. Then in the first 1:06 of the second, Florida put two pucks behind Samsonov in a 47-second span, both after lax efforts by Toronto skaters. The Panthers now have a 2-0 lead in the best-of-7 series headed to Florida.
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Maple Leafs' Ilya Samsonov: Set to start Thursday
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Samsonov is slated to guard the home crease against Florida in Game 2 on Thursday, per Mike Stephens of SI Now.
Samsonov will look to bounce back after surrendering four goals on 28 shots in a 4-2 loss to Florida on Tuesday. He's 4-3 with a 3.29 GAA and an .894 save percentage in seven playoff appearances this year. The Panthers have averaged 3.75 goals per game in the postseason.
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Maple Leafs' Ilya Samsonov: Falls in series opener
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Samsonov allowed four goals on 28 shots in Tuesday's 4-2 loss to the Panthers.
Samsonov kept the Leafs in the game early, holding the Panthers to one goal on 13 shots in the first period. However, the 26-year-old netminder surrendered a pair of tallies in the second period and another in the third as Toronto dropped Game 1. Samsonov is now 4-3-0 with a .895 save percentage in the playoffs after going 40-27-10 with a .919 save percentage in the regular season. He'll look to bounce back Thursday as the Leafs try to even the series in Game 2.
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Maple Leafs' Ilya Samsonov: Set to start Tuesday
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Samsonov was the first goalie off the ice at the morning skate, Mike Stephens of SI Now reports, indicating he will start against the visiting Panthers in Game 1 on Tuesday.
Samsonov posted a 4-2 record with a 3.14 GAA and a .900 save percentage in the first round of the postseason against Tampa Bay. He stopped 82 of 86 shots against Florida during the regular season en route to a 2-0-1 record.
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Maple Leafs' Ilya Samsonov: Saves best for last game in series
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Samsonov made 31 saves in a 2-1 overtime win over the Lightning in Game 6 on Saturday. The Leafs clinch the Round 1 series 4-2.
It was Samsonov's best game of the series -- he was dialed in all night long. The only goal he allowed came off the stick of Lightning captain Steven Stamkos in the second period. With the win, Samsonov became first Leafs goalie to carry his team to a playoff series win since 2004.
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Maple Leafs' Ilya Samsonov: Starting in Tampa Bay
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Samsonov will guard the road goal in Game 6 against Tampa Bay on Saturday, Mark Masters of TSN reports.
Samsonov stopped 34 of 37 shots in Thursday's 4-2 loss to the Lightning. He has a 3-2 record this postseason, surrendering 18 goals on 158 shots. Tampa Bay ranks fifth in the playoffs this year with 32.8 shots per game.
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Maple Leafs' Ilya Samsonov: Some good, some bad in loss
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Samsonov made 34 saves in a 4-2 loss to the Lightning on Thursday in Game 5. He allowed three goals.
Samsonov was outstanding at times and porous at others. He would certainly like Mikey Eyissmont's goal back -- he was pushed wide and fired a bad-angle shot from below thed left circle that trickled through Samsonov's five hole in the second period that pushed the score to 2-1. And the netminder was caught out of position on Nicholas Paul's goal in the third that stood as the winner. He should rebound for Game 6 on Saturday.
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Maple Leafs' Ilya Samsonov: Set to start Thursday
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Samsonov is expected to start at home in Game 5 against Tampa Bay on Thursday, according to Joe Yerdon of the Bleacher Report.
Samsonov has an ugly 3.72 GAA and .876 save percentage through four playoff games, but he's gotten plenty of offensive support and has a 3-1 record in that span. During the regular season, he posted a 2.33 GAA and a .919 save percentage in 42 outings. Tampa Bay had the eighth-ranked offense with 3.41 goals per game during the 2022-23 campaign.
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Maple Leafs' Ilya Samsonov: Wins despite allowing four goals
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Samsonov stopped 27 of 31 shots in a 5-4 overtime win over Tampa Bay in Game 4 on Monday.
Samsonov surrendered two goals in each of the first and second periods, but the Maple Leafs rallied in the third frame and overtime to erase those early struggles. He's now improved to 3-1 in the 2023 playoffs despite posting a 3.72 GAA and an .876 save percentage in that span. Samsonov is likely to start in Game 5 on Thursday, especially given that Matt Murray (concussion) hasn't played since April 2.
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Maple Leafs' Ilya Samsonov: Tending twine Monday
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Samsonov will get the starting nod for Game 4 in Tampa Bay on Monday, David Alter of Sports Illustrated reports.
After losing Game 1, Samsonov has rattled off two straight wins. He's turned aside 56 of 61 shots during that span. Through three games this series, Samsonov is sporting an .878 save percentage. During the regular season, he posted a 2.82 GAA on the road.
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Maple Leafs' Ilya Samsonov: Overcomes queasy start
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Samsonov made 36 saves Saturday in a 4-3 overtime win over Tampa Bay in Game 3.
It wasn't Samsonov's best game, especially early. But then he buckled down and made some sharp saves in overtime against the Bolts snipers. To be honest, it was a bit of a show me, show them game for Samsonov, who will likely be buoyed by proving he can win even when he's not at his best. His overall ratios (3.70 GAA and .878 save percentage) are unimpressive, but he has the Leafs up 2-1 in the series. And at this point in the season, wins are better than individual stats.
