Ilya Samsonov will make his first begin in objective since Dec. 29 when the Maple Leafs host the Detroit Crimson Wings on Sunday evening.
Head coach Sheldon Keefe made the announcement after morning conferences, after refusing to disclose his starter when requested on Saturday.
Samsonov has had a troublesome season, posting an .862 save proportion and three.94 goals-against common, to go along with a 5-2-6 file in 15 video games. His final 4 outings had been all losses and noticed him enable 25 objectives.
The membership put the 26-year-old on waivers after which despatched him right down to the American Hockey League, the place he ultimately practised with the Leafs’ lower-level affiliate. He didn’t play a recreation whereas with the Marlies and was recalled on Wednesday to again up veteran Martin Jones, who has taken over the beginning position within the Russian’s absence and the damage to Joseph Woll.
There was hypothesis that Keefe would attempt rookie Swedish goalie Dennis Hildeby, who was lately referred to as as much as again up Jones when Samsonov was demoted, however Keefe opted to return to his nominal No. 1.
Moreover, Keefe is making one different change a day after his staff blew a three-goal result in the Avalanche en path to a 5-3 loss. Veteran defenceman Mark Giordano, 40, is being given the evening off instead of Connor Timmins, who has not performed since Dec. 21.
