If there was one player or x-factor that the Toronto Maple Leafs desperately needed to show up in the second half of the season it would probably be goaltender Ilya Samsonov. After a rocky and tumultuous start to the season that led to being placed on waivers and subsequently being sent down to the minors, there's a glimmer of hope that the Russian goaltender has returned.
With the top unit of the Maple Leafs' power play uncharacteristically slacking off, the Winnipeg Jets noticed and quickly transitioned from defense to offense in a flash. Neal Pionk's attempted alley-oop pass was deflected by the Maple Leafs but it still landed on the stick of Morgan Barron, who was on a 2-on-0 break with Jets captain Adam Lowry.
Barron passed to Lowry who passed back to Barron who passed it back to Lowry for the one-timer, but Samsonov read the play perfectly and made the huge save. The biggest save then came on the rebound when Barron tried to flip it over the pad but Samsonov was somehow able to keep the puck out, sprawling, with the edge of his pad, just above the toe.
It's a small sample size but Samsonov has been spectacular in his last 5 periods, which includes a 16-save performance against Seattle and currently 21 saves on 21 shots against Winnipeg through 40 minutes of play tonight.
