The Maple Leafs' quest for Lord Stanley may have taken a serious hit on Sunday.
Goaltender Ilya Samsonov left Toronto's Game 3 clash with Florida after teammate Luke Schenn crashed into him. He did not return to the contest and his status going forward is up in the air.
The Panthers went on to win Game 3 in overtime, as Sam Reinhart's game-winner gave Florida a 3-2 win and a 3-0 series lead. However, the Leafs stayed alive with a 2-1 win in Game 4 on Wednesday, setting up a fifth game in the series.
The Maple Leafs already face an uphill battle in the second round, needing to rip off three more wins in a row to keep their season alive. The injury to Samsonov throws a wrinkle into the goaltender position at arguably the worst possible time in the season.
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Is Ilya Samsonov playing in Game 5 vs. Panthers?
Samsonov has already been ruled out of Game 5 on Friday against the Panthers.
Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe said on Thursday that he hasn't skated yet since suffering the injury and that it will Woll in the crease for Game 5.
Sheldon Keefe says Ilya Samsonov hasn’t skated since sustaining an upper body injury in Game 3
— Mark Masters (@markhmasters) May 11, 2023
“As of right now, it’s Joe Woll and Matt Murray that are available … it will be Joe again [in Game 5] at this point” @TSN_Edge
Woll made his first career postseason start in Game 4, turning aside 24 of the 25 shots he faced. He will be the starter again on Friday.
MORE: Breaking down the Maple Leafs goaltenders behind Ilya Samsonov
Ilya Samsonov injury update
Samsonov is currently dealing with an upper-body injury.
The Leafs goaltender was forced into action early in the second period of Game 3, batting away an Anthony Duclair effort. The puck fell right out in front of the net for Panthers forward Carter Verhaeghe, who tried to slip a forehand effort past the outstretched goalie.
Schenn sold out for the play, sprawling across the ice in hopes of flicking the puck wayward. But his last-ditch leap was erratic, collecting Samsonov and the net in the process.
Ilya Samsonov is leaving tonight's game after this tough collision with Luke Schenn#LeafsForever pic.twitter.com/BgD0h5Qy2X
— Hockey Daily 365 l NHL Highlights (@HockeyDaily365) May 7, 2023
The 26-year old took a serious wallop, staying face down on the ice for some time. He was eventually helped to the locker room, with backup Joseph Woll taking the reins in the cage.
Samsonov is coming off a breakout 2022-23 campaign in which he set career highs in games started (40), wins (27), goals against average (2.33) and save percentage (.916).
