Samsonov and the Maple Leafs are refreshed and primed for action after an all-star break.
Ilya Samsonov, a goalie for the Maple Leafs, was enjoying himself immensely in the sun in Cancun, but he knew he had to return to work.
Samsonov cut short his all-star break and returned to the ice on Saturday at the Ford Performance Centre, giving himself a head start on the Leafs’ return to practice on Sunday, after spending time at a Mexican resort with his wife, infant son, and parents.
Regarding his vacation, Samsonov remarked, “I think it was a really good rest for (the) head.” “A tiny bit of replenishment. We ended January with three straight victories, which made it easier to enjoy the break.
Samsonov will have the opportunity to continue his run of solid play on Monday at Scotiabank Arena when he starts against the New York Islanders. Samsonov continued to make sure his previous struggles remained in the past, stopping 72 of 75 shots in three victories before the Leafs scattered.
Sheldon Keefe, coach of the Leafs, said, “He did a terrific job for us.” “He chose to end his break early, returned here, and returned to the ice. That reveals to me where his mind is and what he is considering.We are pleased with his response. Coming out of the break, he has earned the net.
Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, William Nylander, and Morgan Rielly had a great all-star weekend, so much so that they were allowed to spend the rest of the day off the ice after practicing without their teammates on Sunday.
In terms of injuries, the Leafs will be without center David Kampf against the Islanders due to Calle Jarnkrok’s broken knuckle, which has forced him to be sidelined for weeks. Kampf had an unidentified injury examined by an MRI on Sunday.
Keefe stated, “He got banged up a bit just before the break.” He’s not quite ready because (Leafs medical staff) wasn’t satisfied with how it settled down during the break. For now, he’s living day to day while we wait for more information.
Bobby McMann, a winger, is anticipated to start after sitting out the last two of the team’s three games prior to the break due to an unspecified injury. Pontus Holmberg will center the fourth line now that Kampf is out.
Goalie In the meantime, Joseph Woll has been skating for the past week to recuperate from a sprained ankle he sustained against Ottawa on December 7. Woll was released from on-ice duties for the weekend, but it is anticipated that it will occur in the morning.
The Leafs will enter the unofficial second half of 2023–24 in a competitive postseason race when the regular season resumes. The Leafs’ final 35 games will be fought for third place in the division against the Tampa Bay Lightning and Detroit Red Wings, based on how the Atlantic Division is currently developing.
Toronto has a busy week ahead of them, starting on Wednesday with a visit from the Dallas Stars and ending on Saturday with a single game away in Ottawa. The Leafs will be at Nathan Phillips Square for their yearly outdoor practice on Thursday.
Regarding the level of competition within the division and conference, Keefe stated, “That’s what we expected.” As far as where we are at, we were pleased with the way we were playing and trending prior to the break. That, in my opinion, offers us some encouragement.
Our team benefits from the division’s and the conference’s healthy level of competition. It will require everything from us, and we have proven ourselves capable of rising to challenges.
“From the beginning to the end of the break, we will need to think like we are in the playoffs.
Regarding Samsonov, he would be delighted to reply on the ice to the encouragement he received from Leafs supporters when he was in Cancun. Speaking with reporters on Sunday while seated in his dressing room stall, Samsonov mentioned the fortuitous meetings he had during his absence with Leafs Nation members.
It was pleasant, Samsonov remarked. “Good luck and good job,” they said after the previous few games. Nothing extraordinary.
