Honestly, just playing in a Leafs home opener would be a wild experience. The game featured cameo appearances from the great Felix Potvin and even Duane "The Rock" Johnson. The fanfare and excitement are enough to distract anyone, that is, if you know who The Rock is. Apparently Samsonov had never heard of the famous wrestler/actor before tonight.
Samsonov looked a little shaky on the Capitals second goal, a squeaker that found its way under his arm and in. After that, the kid from Magnitogorsk shut the door. Samsonov came up huge several times with the game on the line in the third while the referees did everything they could go help the Caps tie it up, sending them to the PP 3 times after the Leafs took the lead.