Ilya Samsonov's self-assessment of where his game is at is just as great as you'd expect it to be
It didn't take long for first-year Leaf Ilya Samsonov to endear himself to his teammates in Toronto and the entire Leafs fanbase. Whether it be his stellar play at home, his positive attitude and strong work ethic or his colourful media sessions, Samsonov hasn't had a tough time fitting right in in Toronto at all.
Not every game can be a win and Samsonov knows this. It's helped keep him pretty even keel. If your highs are never too high and your lows are never too low, it can sometimes help with your confidence and with your consistency. That's precisely why Samsonov has been so solid and reliable for the Buds this year.
Following last night's loss to the Bruins in Boston, Samsonov shared with the media where he felt his game is at currently and how he's feeling leading up to the playoffs. His response was just as great as you might expect.
Samsonov has likely played his way into the #1 goalie slot in Toronto with his excellent efforts night in and night out this season. With the health of Matt Murray being what it is, yes that's a factor, but even if Murray was healthy right now, Samsonov is just playing better hockey as a whole. Experience does factor in in the playoffs moreso than any other time of the year, but with how well Samsonov has performed at home this season, I'd imagine he'll be starting at least the first 2 games in Toronto with the Leafs having locked up home ice last night.
| POLL | ||
AVRIL 7 | 409 ANSWERS Ilya Samsonov's self-assessment of where his game is at is just as great as you'd expect it to be Are you confident in Samsonov's abilities to be a number 1 goaltender in the playoffs? | ||
| Yes | 295 | 72.1 % |
| No | 32 | 7.8 % |
| I have my concerns, but I'm optimistic | 82 | 20 % |
| List of polls | ||
