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It was ‘very important’ Ilya Samsonov beat the Lighting because it was the first time his dad watched him play an NHL game live

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Ilya Samsonov has won eight of his first 10 starts in the NHL, but Saturday’s victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning was extra special for the 22-year-old rookie goaltender.

“You know I’m happy because I win this game for him,” Samsonov said, referring to his father Aleksei. “He’s first time watching live my game. It’s really important. I’m so happy.”

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Samsonov, who grew up in Magnitogorsk, Russia, played parts of four seasons with his hometown KHL team, Metallurg Magnitogorsk, before leaving to play professional hockey in North America last season with the Hershey Bears. Saturday, Aleksei Samsonov joined nearly three dozen other mentors to watch his son Ilya play an NHL game for the first time.

“I feel good all game,” Ilya said. “It was really important all game because we have fathers’ trip. It’s really important win today.”

Aleksei was captured being very animated in the stands several times during the game. He got air high-fives from Anders Backstrom after Nicklas Backstrom scored the first goal of the game.

A Capitals photographer captured Aleksei raising both his arms in triumph during a moment later in the third period.

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Go Sammy gooo! #CapsDads

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Samsonov made 26 saves against the Lightning, including several ten bell stops. Samsonov’s eighth win is tied for the most in the NHL among rookie goalies.

Overall this season, Ilya has posted a 2.38 goals against average and a .918 save percentage. He’s attempting to take over the starting spot for Braden Holtby next season, who is an unrestricted free agent and could command up to $10 million per season on the open market.

But for Aleksei and Ilya, those future plans are not important. Just being able to share an NHL regular-season game together in Tampa was special enough.

Full RMNB Coverage of Caps at Lightning

Headline photo: NBC Sports Washington

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