In the Toronto Maple Leafs' first game without both Ilya Samsonov and Joseph Woll, Sheldon Keefe and company have tabbed Martin Jones as the starting goaltender ahead of their tilt against the Los Angeles Kings later tonight.
By now everyone is up to speed on Samsonov being placed on waivers before subsequently clearing the following day, which allowed the club the ability to call up prospect Dennis Hildeby in a corresponding move.
It's not surprising to see Jones in goal in the first game of a back-to-back and against the far superior opponent in Los Angeles (20-8-5). Hildeby could still make his first career NHL start tomorrow night in Anaheim (13-23-0). Keefe told the media following practice that Jones' status for tomorrow's game in Anaheim will depend on how he feels following tonight's start in LA. He may yet start both ends of the back-to-back.
Jones has enjoyed a relatively successful start to his Maple Leafs tenure as he enters tonight's game with a 4-3-0 record with 1 shutout in 8 games to go along with a .915 SV% and a a 2.73 G.A.A. Jones was in goal in their last game against Carolina where he stopped 25 of 27 shots but was still tabbed with the loss after a decisive Sebastian Aho empty-netter gave the Hurricanes a 3-1 lead.
It will be a home-coming of sorts for the soon-to-be 34-year-old as he started out his career with the Kings, playing in 34 games across 2 seasons backing up Jonathan Quick. He was sensational in his short stint with Los Angeles as he sported. a .923 SV% and a 1.99 G.A.A with 7 shutouts.
