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Keefe provides updates on Samsonov and Murray, reveals his reason for not activating Murray from LTIR

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Mike Armenti
November 12, 2022 (3:24 PM)

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It's been a troublesome start for Leafs goaltenders, with both Matt Murray and Ilya Samsonov suffering injuries within the first quarter of their debut seasons with the Leafs. For Samsonov, his troubles seem relatively minor compared to Murray's after the 28-year-old suffered an adductor injury during practice back at the beginning of the season, which has seen him sidelined and on LTIR for all but one game - the season opener.

It had originally appeared as though Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe was going to name Matt Murray as the team's starter against Vancouver tonight, but pivoted late and will be going with 3rd string goaltender Erik Kallgren over Murray and even the well-rested Keith Petruzzelli.

Following the Leafs' morning skate, Keefe explained his rationale behind electing to leave Murray on LTIR, rather than starting him this weekend after several practices in which Murray had shined this week.

"Physically, he's doing good, he's been cleared ... There's a lot of things that our performance team tracks for players coming back from injury and they just felt that a little more time would serve him well."

-Keefe on being cautious with Matt Murray

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As for Samsonov, he suffered a knee injury last weekend against the Boston Bruins and has resumed skating this week. He remains on IR and has not yet been cleared. As far as what the plans are for Samsonov, if Keefe's approach with Murray is any indication, he's likely to take an equally cautious approach with Samsonov, who is 6-2-0 in 8 appearances this season. He boasts a solid 2.23 GAA to go along with a .921 SV%.

"It's been positive. I'm not sure exactly what the plan would be, but I think we'll see him take a big step come Monday (at practice) and work toward a return from there."

-Keefe on how things have gone with Samsonov this week

Hopefully by this time next week, the Leafs will have both their 1A and 1B back in play and can get to work on making up some ground in both the Atlantic Division and the league after a less than ideal start to the 2022-23 campaign.

Previously on MapleLeafsDaily

Sheldon Keefe explains his decision to play Kallgren in back-to-back games instead of starting Keith Petruzzelli on Saturday

Sheldon Keefe makes surprising decision in goal for the 2nd game of the Leafs' back-to-back

Sheldon Keefe reveals the roster plans for Saturday's game against the Canucks; game-time decision could lead to a change on D

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12 NOVEMBRE \| 277 ANSWERS Keefe provides updates on Samsonov and Murray, reveals his reason for not activating Murray from LTIR Will the Leafs have both Murray and Samsonov back by next weekend?
Yes	116	41.9 %
No	50	18.1 %
Maybe one but not both	111	40.1 %
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