The Leafs successfully concluded a four-game trip on Sunday, three nights after defeating Seattle. With 32 saves against the Jets, Samsonov was unquestionably the best Toronto player on the ice.
Two wins this week, including a 1-0 shutout against Winnipeg on Wednesday in Toronto, involved a total of 48 saves on 49 shots by Samsonov.
In addition to showing improvement in net, the Maple Leafs goalie won the poker tournament on Thursday night at the team’s charity gala at the Fairmont Royal York hotel.
“A lot of flights for us (recently),” Samsonov said with a smile after the Leafs practised on Friday at the Ford Performance Centre. “So good practice. I was excited.”
Samsonov will get another chance when he starts for the Leafs on Saturday in Winnipeg against the Jets in their final game before the National Hockey League all-star break. There has been plenty of reason for him to feel good about himself in his return to work.
Leaf Coach Sheldon Keefe on Samsonov
The trust, sure, is there,” Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe said. “If it wasn’t, we wouldn’t put him back in
“Like any other player, it’s about consistency. He can’t prove his consistency until we consistently put him out there. That’s really it. He has to keep stacking up good days.”
Leading scorer Mark Scheifele of the Jets will be sidelined once more due to a lower-body injury. It’s expected, though, that the Leafs will face top goalie Connor Hellebuyck after they required the extra period to finally get one past backup Laurent Brossoit on Wednesday.
The Jets are the best defensive team in the NHL, and the Leafs have seen firsthand how hard work and intensity are required to get inside the offensive zone.