Ilya Samsonov on digging himself out of a mental rut: ‘I know I’m a better goalie than this’

NASHVILLE – Ilya Samsonov stood almost nose to nose with Maple Leafs goalie coach Curtis Sanford following practice on Friday afternoon.

He stood and listened to what Sanford had to say. Then, with his mask lifted, Samsonov stood on one knee and simply stared into space.

Samsonov is going through it right now, admittedly so, amid a rough start to the season that’s seen him surrender 14 goals in only four starts. He was pulled last time out in Tampa after giving up three goals on four shots but will get the net back from Joseph Woll when the Leafs play the Predators on Saturday.

“If I’m saying I feel great, it’s not true,” said an emotional Samsonov after stepping off the ice. “I feel (like) s— … (But) I’m a guy who will be fighting through this. I will be fighting every day.

“I know I’m a better goalie than this.”

Samsonov said he took the last week, which saw Woll take the net and play well in Washington and Dallas, to “figure out my mental stuff and in my brain, I get a couple days (of) rest.”

He believes his struggles are all between the ears. He’s trying to focus on “simple stuff” at the moment. The things he can control. “Like if you get some bad bounces or you didn’t feel the puck great — you need to start with the small details, just the simple stuff,” he said. “Just think about (stopping) the puck, it doesn’t matter how.”

Samsonov’s season began with a series of unfortunate bad bounces, pucks that wormed their way into the net in every which way, many beyond his control. It seemed to ding his confidence anyway and led to a string of preventable goals, the kind of goals that paved the way for Woll to step in.

Samsonov is viewing this rough stretch as a teachable moment for himself, an opportunity to grow from a difficult period.

“He’s had some time to put in extra work and clear his head and all of that,” Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe said. “But I think the important thing and important message here is it’s early.

“It’s early. Let’s relax,” Keefe said. “This is a really good goalie that carried us through some tough times last year and had a career year. Let’s let it breathe.”

It is only four starts, but his play so far remains a concern given Samsonov’s largely inconsistent play before last season. He was (is) supposed to be the Leafs No. 1 this season.

The decision to turn back to him at this particular moment is notable. Woll excelled in relief of Samsonov in Tampa and then carried the Leafs to a win in Washington. He was solid again behind a five-man defence (Jake McCabe played only the first 10 seconds after suffering a lower-body injury that will keep him out for the foreseeable future) two nights later in Dallas.

He’s let in only five goals in his four appearances.

The Leafs could have fairly turned his way again and ride the hot hand. But clearly, they see a need, understandably, to try to get Samsonov back on track as soon as possible. Wait another few days and the mental pressure on Samsonov will only rise, especially if Woll keeps dealing.

Samsonov described Woll’s performance as “unbelievable” and added, “We need to be happy because we have a great goalie.”

He added that Woll and the team had “saved my a—” in his last start against the Lightning.

“We need to push each other,” Samsonov said. “We’re both ready for this.”

As for Sanford, he and Samsonov have shared many apparent heart-to-hearts over the last week. After Monday’s practice in Washington, Samsonov sat next to Sanford on the bench while the goalie coach drew on a whiteboard.

Whiteboard aside, Sanford has become more psychologist than coach at the moment, it seems.

“He’s tried to help me more mentally,” Samsonov said. “It’s not about how I’m playing hockey. It’s not about (how I’m feeling) physically. It’s not about nothing (like that). Not about (technical play). It’s just the mental stuff. I had a really good talk with him. He said a lot of positive things.”

“It’s a mental game for him,” Keefe said. “He has the ability. He’s shown that.”

(Top photo by David Kirouac / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)