Maple Leafs give Ilya Samsonov start vs. Red Wings, Giordano out

January 14, 2024 - 2:53pm

Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe says that goaltender Ilya Samsonov will get the start against the Detroit Red Wings, explains how the team arrived at this decision, and notes that defenceman Mark Giordano will be out for the game.

Ilya Samsonov will make his first start in goal since Dec. 29 when the Maple Leafs host the Detroit Red Wings on Sunday night.

Head coach Sheldon Keefe made the announcement after morning meetings, after refusing to reveal his starter when asked on Saturday.

Samsonov has had a difficult season, posting an .862 save percentage and 3.94 goals-against average, to go with a 5-2-6 record in 15 games. His last four outings were all losses and saw him allow 25 goals.

The club put the 26-year-old on waivers and then sent him down to the American Hockey League, where he eventually practised with the Leafs' lower-level affiliate. He did not play a game while with the Marlies and was recalled on Wednesday to back up veteran Martin Jones, who has taken over the starting role in the Russian's absence and the injury to Joseph Woll.

"He's done the work," Keefe said of Samsonov. "You got to give him the chance back in and see if that's made any kind of progress. Once the decision was made that they didn't want him to play in any AHL games, I think we need to get him back in a game here to see where he is at."

There was speculation that the Maple Leafs would try rookie Swedish goalie Dennis Hildeby, who was recently called up to back up Jones when Samsonov was demoted, but Keefe explained that the decision to go back to their nominal No. 1 involved more than just he and goalie coach Curtis Sanford.

"It's a bigger decision than just me or Curtis," Keefe said. "...When you're making a decision like this, it's not just a feel thing or whatever the coach thinks. You’re consulting everybody and trying to do what's right for the team and the player."

Additionally, Keefe is making one other change a day after his team blew a three-goal lead to the Avalanche en route to a 5-3 loss. Veteran defenceman Mark Giordano, 40, is being given the night off in place of Connor Timmins, who has not played since Dec. 21.

The game can be seen at 7:30 p.m. ET / 4:30 p.m. PT on Sportsnet and Sportsnet+.

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