BUFFALO — Last seen getting shelled for six by the Columbus Blue Jackets, Ilya Samsonov will be given his first start for the Toronto Maple Leafs in week.
"He's got to play. We gotta get him going here," head coach Sheldon Keefe said Thursday morning in Buffalo. "So, that's really it."
The pressure is on Samsonov to find some traction in the crease.
Although the affable Russian began the season as the Leafs' No. 1 netminder, he lost that status on merit to rookie Joseph Woll.
When Woll got felled by a high-ankle sprain in Ottawa on Dec. 7, Samsonov was granted a second chance to assert himself as the starter.
Yet despite pitching an 18-save shutout against Nashville on Dec. 9, after a two-week break during which he battled illness, Samsonov gave up four goals to the Islanders, then six to the Jackets, losing both starts in overtime.
The Columbus night was particularly shaky, to the point where Keefe considered pulling Samsonov mid-game, and third-stringer Martin Jones as swiftly become the more trusted goalie available.
That Samsonov gets the net Thursday versus a struggling Sabres team (Buffalo's minus-20 ranks last in the Eastern Conference) makes more sense than throwing him against the more offensively threatening Jackets — and that blasted cannon — Saturday in Columbus.
Following Samsonov's most recent loss, Keefe made an effort to spread the blame, noting that Toronto didn't defend well enough in the first period to help the goalie get in a groove.
Samsonov is 5-1-5 this season, on pace for a career lows in both goals-against average (3.51) and save percentage (.878).
The return of Woll is far from imminent, but when he does get healthy, the Leafs will either need to carry three goaltenders or place one of Jones (3-1-0, .930) or Samsonov on waivers.
It's evident whom the coaching staff trusts more at this moment.
The heat is on Samsonov to elevate.
Top defenceman Morgan Rielly said Thursday that the club's defensive approach is not dependent on who is in net or how he's been playing lately.
"We're just gonna focus on the team game and having a good start. And then the expectation around here is that every individual is going to do what they need to do to prepare. And then, from there, it's all about the team," Rielly said. "We're not really changing any type of game plan or any type of structure based on when players streak or lack thereof.
"We're just gonna go out there and play and trust that everybody's ready to go."
One-Timers: Mark Giordano was a full participant in morning skate for the first time since breaking his finger on Nov. 28. He won't play this week but will be listed as day-to-day following the Christmas break. ... Devon Levi starts in net for Buffalo. ... Jeff Skinner and Jordan Greenway are game-time decisions. ... Toronto is juggling its top four on D, placing Timothy Liljegren to the right of Rielly and creating an all-lefty shutdown duo of Jake McCabe and T.J. Brodie, with Brodie making a rare appearance on his natural side.
Maple Leafs projected lines vs. Sabres on Thursday
Knies – Matthews – Nylander
Bertuzzi – Tavares – Marner
Robertson – Domi – Järnkrok
McMann – Kämpf – Gregor
Rielly – Liljegren
Brodie – McCabe
Benoit – Timmins
Samsonov starts
Jones
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