Leafs confirm starting goalie for Thursday's Battle of Ontario
With Ilya Samsonov's mysterious illness taking a toll on him over the past week or so, he hasn't really been able to suit up for practice until yesterday - and even that session was a brief one. Samsonov was back on the ice today for practice, first working with Joseph Woll and emergency recall Martin Jones on a separate sheet of ice, before eventually joining the main group for practice.
We weren't exactly sure what would happen with the goaltending situation ahead of Thursday's game in Ottawa, but it seemed like a pretty good chance that Woll would start yet again, with Jones backing him up while Samsonov hangs back in Toronto and continues to practice and recover from the illness that had taken him out of action, enduring flu-like symptoms. Now we have our answer.
Per Sheldon Keefe, Joseph Woll will indeed get the start tomorrow night against the Senators. In addition, not only will Martin Jones make the trip to Ottawa - Ilya Samsonov will travel with the team as well, Keefe confirms. As far as who will back Woll up in Ottawa, Keefe has revealed that the Leafs won't know until tomorrow which goalie will dress as the backup.
Woll is 8-5-1 so far this season, and is currently sporting a 2.82 GAA and a .915 AV% in 14 appearances. He is 3-1-1 over his last 5 starts and has faced 35 or more shots in 5 straight games.
| POLL | ||
6 DECEMBRE | 638 ANSWERS Leafs confirm starting goalie for Thursday's Battle of Ontario What is your favourite Leafs rivalry? | ||
| Leafs/Habs | 273 | 42.8 % |
| Leafs/Bruins | 243 | 38.1 % |
| Leafs/Sens | 79 | 12.4 % |
| Other | 43 | 6.7 % |
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