Maple Leafs goaltender Ilya Samsonov is aware of the time is coming (very quickly) when his life will change without end, with sleepless nights within the forecast.
It has nothing to do with success or failure within the Stanley Cup playoffs. Samsonov’s spouse Mariya is anticipating their first child, a son, within the subsequent few days.
“Nervous and excited, too,” stated Samsonov. “It is a new expertise for me. You by no means know, however what I do know is, this life — my life — goes to be altering. Perhaps much less sleep, up at evening.”
Samsonov remained in Toronto over the weekend whereas Matt Murray took the web in Ottawa, with Joseph Woll backing up for Saturday’s 5-4 shootout win.
“I wish to say thanks (to the) group for giving me some additional time,” stated Samsonov.
Coach Sheldon Keefe talked about the goalie was additionally a bit banged up. Regardless of the ailment, it remained undisclosed Monday because the Leafs ready for Tuesday evening’s highway date with the New York Islanders. Samsonov would solely say that it was unrelated to the knee harm that sidelined him earlier within the season.
“As we are able to all think about, he is on edge a bit bit simply ensuring that issues are taken care of,” Keefe stated. “He’ll be a first-time dad … Giving him that day (off) was each a possibility for him to relaxation and take care of the issues that he is been coping with medically, but in addition simply be there for his spouse.”
It is a large yr throughout for the 26-year-old Samsonov, who was discarded by the Capitals. The Leafs had proven curiosity when the goalie was nonetheless beneath contract in Washington, hoping to commerce for his rights, however the Capitals let him stroll as an unrestricted free agent once they grew to become fixated on signing Stanley Cup champion Darcy Kuemper.
Samsonov signed a one-year, show-me contract price $1.8 million (US) in hopes that it might result in a much bigger payday. He’ll be a restricted free agent with arbitration rights this summer time and, to this point, the season has labored out nearly in addition to he and Leafs followers might need hoped. He is 24-8-3 with a .917 save proportion general, however his highway report has been a little bit of a head-scratcher (6-6-1, .900).
His .887 save mark on high-danger photographs in all conditions (per naturalstattrick.com) is the league’s greatest amongst goalies who’ve performed at the least 10 video games; Murray ranks twenty fourth (.838) amongst 74 NHL netminders.
Of the 2, Samsonov is extra prone to steal a sport. He is allowed 81 targets in all, 13 fewer than his anticipated targets towards, a metric that measures the standard of photographs he is confronted. Murray has allowed 66 in complete, equal to his anticipated quantity.
Keefe credit goalie coach Curtis Sanford.
“Within the low season, Curtis Sanford and (Samsonov) actually set out a superb plan and started working, and so they’ve been very per it,” Keefe stated. “Curtis’s demeanor is, he would not get too excited when issues are going nice, would not get too down or rattled when issues aren’t. And I believe he is capable of switch that on to the goaltenders.
“That is allowed Samsonov to settle in. He is had just a few bumps alongside the way in which, and he rectifies (himself) actually shortly, which is what you are in search of. No goalie goes via a complete season with out some bumps alongside the way in which. The distinction between the top-end goaltenders — and actually everyone else — is that they do it extra persistently and they can carry it again. And that is what we have seen from each our targets, in order that’s been actually good. It is a credit score to them for placing within the work, and Curtis has completed a very good job with them.”
Barring a late-night supply, Samsonov will begin Tuesday evening in Lengthy Island together with his spouse’s blessing: “She stated simply play hockey and we’ll determine it out.”
Leafs notables
Ahead Noel Acciari, damage in Friday’s sport towards Carolina, practiced in full and is anticipated to play Tuesday … Defenseman TJ Brodie (foot) missed follow and is day-to-day …. Defenseman Victor Mete (decrease physique) and ahead Nick Robertson (shoulder surgical procedure) had been noticed skating on their very own on the Ford Efficiency Centre. Robertson is just not anticipated to play once more this season, although Mete may very well be prepared for the NHL or AHL playoffs … Defenseman Carl Dahlström (shoulder) is rehabbing with the Marlies.
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