Good thing it wasn’t a groin issue for Ilya Samsonov after all.
Some suspected that the Maple Leafs goaltender had suffered that particular injury late in the team’s victory against the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday.
Not so, Samsonov said on Wednesday.
“I hit some posts with my calf,” Samsonov said. “Little bit contusion on my muscle. Like a cramp, last couple of days just feel pretty sore.
“If it was groin problem, I’m done for the season. I’m happy. I feel healthy and everything is good. Ready to play again.”
Samsonov won’t get that opportunity on Thursday when the Leafs play host to the Washington Capitals at Scotiabank Arena.
Joseph Woll will get a third consecutive start, Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe confirmed. Woll gets a shot at some redemption after the New Jersey Devils beat him five times on 24 shots, and scored an empty-net goal, in a 6-3 victory against Toronto on Tuesday.
“It’s a good chance for him to get back in there,” Keefe said. “Both in what happened (against the Devils) and also with Samsonov on a bit of a pause, it gives Joe a chance to get his workload up.
“He had a really strong game in Carolina (on Sunday with 41 saves) and then not as strong (Tuesday), like the group in front of him.”
Woll was critical after his play after the loss to New Jersey, and if he took a wider view, he probably wouldn’t be thrilled with his work as a whole since his return from a high ankle sprain.
In six games, Woll is 2-4-0 with an .888 save percentage. If he is going to take a legitimate run at being the Leafs starter in the playoffs, that kind of netminding won’t get him there.
In the same span, Samsonov is 5-1-1 with a .915 save percentage.
Leave a Reply