Sheldon Keefe provides an update on Ilya Samsonov's 3rd period injury

For the second time in less than a week, Leafs Nation has been left to assume the worst after seeing Ilya Samsonov hobble off the ice.

The Leafs' presumptive Game 1 starter took a puck to a sentitive area at morning skate last Saturday but was able to play that night. This Saturday, it was late in the third period when Samsonov dove across the net in a desperate bid to stop a Leon Draisaitl shot. Ironically, if he had come across slower, he would have stopped the puck. Instead, he overshot it, and appeared to injure himself in the process.


Watching the replay, I was sure Samsonov had torn something in his groin. The way his right leg stretched out just didn't look quite right. Samsonov left the game immediately, leaving Martin Jones to defend a 2 goal lead for the last 5 minutes of the game. Thankfully, Jones was able to hold the fort while the Leafs hung on to win by a score of 6-3. After the game, Sheldon Keefe surprised all of us by reporting that Samsonov is fine and shouldn't miss any time.



I find it both strange and extremely concerning that this has happened twice in a span of seven days with Sammy. Either he's overly sensitive or the Leafs are willing to let him play through injury in the regular season with two other goaltenders on the roster already and the playoffs fast approaching.