The Leafs’ Ilya Samsonov will try to extend shutout streak and delay Ovechkin’s climb
Samsonov #Samsonov
WASHINGTON—It could be an historic and possibly emotional night when Maple Leafs goalie Ilya Samsonov plays his first game as a visitor in Capital One Arena, where he made his debut as an NHL goalie.
His friend, Alex Ovechkin, is one goal away from career goal 801, which would tie him with the legendary Gordie Howe for second in league history. The Capitals captain with the questionable politics needs 94 to tie Wayne Gretzky’s record of 894.
The game should be personal for Samsonov, since the Capitals essentially tossed him aside and allowed him to leave as a free agent last summer, but there’s also more Leafs history on the line. Samsonov has posted two shutouts in a row. Another and he would tie a franchise record set by Lorne Chabot in 1930-31 and matched by Turk Broda in 1950-51.
“It will be a big game, special game for me,” Samsonov said. “It will be my first game in Washington since I signed (in Toronto). I’m so excited. I believe we’re great. A better team. I believe in my teammates. I want to get the win and get two points.”
Washington drafted Samsonov in the first round in 2015 and he played three seasons with the Capitals, sharing the net last year with Vitek Vanecek. The Capitals didn’t like how either goalie performed in 2020-21 and allowed both to walk away, going instead with Stanley Cup champion Darcy Kuemper and backup Charlie Lindgren.
“I remember my first game in Washington, first time playing big NHL hockey,” said Samsonov. “A lot of good memories as a Capital, especially my first year. Not a lot the last couple of years, but this is life.”
Vanecek has established himself as the No. 1 goalie on the surprising New Jersey Devils while Samsonov has had an outstanding start to his Maple Leafs career sharing the net with Matt Murray. Samsonov is 8-0-0 at home, just the third goaltender in franchise history to record an eight-game home point streak. (Gord McRae went 12 games without a loss, the team record, spread over two seasons.)
Samsonov got his streak going with a 3-2 win against the Capitals in the Leafs’ first home game of the season, and has posted some of the league’s best goaltending numbers. His .939 save percentage and 1.70 goals-against average lead the league among goalies who have played at least eight games.
But ask him about how his season is going, and Samsonov has a refreshing answer.
“We’ll see in June,” he said. “Right now, it doesn’t matter. Playoffs matter. Playoffs are more important.”
The 25-year-old Samsonov, by virtue of his Russian background, was friends with the 37-year-old Ovechkin when they were teammates, though he was closer to 30-year-old Evgeni Kuznetsov, who is closer to his age. He insists he’s not thinking about Ovechkin potentially tying Howe on Saturday night.
“I don’t think about him,” said Samsonov. “Doesn’t matter if it’s Ovechkin or Kuznetsov or whoever.”
In other words, his job is to stop the puck.
Ovechkin, meanwhile, was asked how it might feel to tie and pass Howe.
“Let’s not jump too far,” he said. “You never know what’s going to happen, right? I just have to go out there and play the game as hard as I can and if this happens, it’s great. If not, we’re going to work and try to make it happen.”
Ovechkin avoids talking about his relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin now that Russia is a pariah state for its invasion of and ongoing war with Ukraine. A picture of Ovechkin and Putin together remains part of his Instagram profile picture. Even if he were to remove it, there could be ramifications for him or his family from a regime that does not handle criticism well.
So, in Washington, the talk remains focused on hockey and Ovechkin’s pursuit of NHL scoring supremacy and the accompanying media frenzy around it that he manages to block out.
“This is not my first year in the league and, obviously, I live my life and try to do my best,” Ovechkin said. “I think everybody right now is enjoying this ride.”
While the fans in Washington revere Ovechkin and are sure to go crazy if he matches Howe against Toronto, Samsonov wonders how they might treat him.
“I was thinking about this a little bit, but it’s hard to say,” he said. “I know a lot of guys support me. The time I played in the Washington was a nice time for me. We’ll see what’s going to happen.”
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