Ilya Samsonov did a Russian language interview on Instagram Live with Oleg Romashko on Thursday. Romashko hosts a hockey school for young goaltenders in Moscow.

The Capitals backup goaltender, who’s back home in Russia, gave all sorts of insight into his career during the three-hour chat where he also answered questions from fans. Samsonov revealed that he first played goalie at age 7 and it’s all he ever wanted to be.

He also talked about advice he received from his Russian Capitals teammates once he made the NHL.

“My arms were even shaking and then Dmitry told me, ‘Why are you nervous? The game is the same one as you played during preseason, nothing special.’ And Ovi added, ‘Don’t worry. Just do your job and we’ll help you and score.’ When I stopped a couple of shots at the match, I even forgot that it’s my first game,” Samsonov said.

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How Ilya Samsonov became a goalie and what he hates while training.

Ilya Samsonov: “I started playing hockey when I was seven. I asked my parents to take me to a local hockey club because I wanted to be a goalie. I was just a little boy who once saw hockey and fell in love with it. I didn’t even try to be a [skater]. I became a goaltender from the very first days. I guess the reason I chose this position was (how) great goalie’s equipment (was).”

What’s the most unpleasant thing about practice?

Ilya Samsonov: “Waking up before practice! Putting all the equipment on, too. It takes so much time.”

What were your feelings before you first NHL game?

Ilya Samsonov: “Surprisingly, I was very calm before the match against the Islanders. The previous day I was really nervous but the guys supported me. We had dinner together with Ovi, Orlov, and Leo Komarov. My arms were even shaking and then Dmitry told me, ‘Why are you nervous? The game is the same one as you played during preseason, nothing special.’ And Ovi added, ‘Don’t worry. Just do your job and we’ll help you and score.’ When I stopped a couple of shots at the match, I even forgot that it’s my first game.”

What are your most memorable games?

Ilya Samsonov: “My debut in the NHL, my first defeat there, and my first shutout. These [games] were very emotional.”

Who’s the noisiest guy during Capitals games?

Ilya Samsonov: “Kuzy for sure. When he’s playing, you can here nobody except for him. Kuzy always tells me to change the color of my pads. He says, ‘Your pads are awful! What an ugly goalie! Change them!’”

Who are your best friends in hockey?

Ilya Samsonov: “Shumakov, Kaprizov, and Shchemerov. We constantly keep in touch.”

Did you speak English when you came to America?

Ilya Samsonov: “Absolutely no! My vocabulary included just couple of words that I heard when I had been in Turkey. I was immediately offered to learn English with a tutor. Moreover, Shumakov left the AHL and I started to speak with other guys. Gradually my English was getting better and better.”

What five unpleasant things can you name about living in the USA?

Ilya Samsonov: “I’m not sure that I’ll be able to name five such things… The worst thing is that everyone doesn’t speak Russian. Well, I also don’t love chicken here, it tastes bad. I meet too many overweight people because of extremely big amount of junk food – it’s not good at all.”

Did your parents make you work?

Ilya Samsonov: “As for household chores, they often told me to wash the floors or something like that – as in every family. But as for hockey, they don’t need to force me to do anything. I always was full of desire to train and play.”

Have they visited you in the US?

Ilya Samsonov: “Yes, last year they spent about a month here in March. This season they came in December so we had an opportunity to celebrate New Year’s together.”

Quick hits

Friend of the blog, Terry Bass, translated other interesting parts of the interview.

• Nick Jensen is the quietest player on the team. “I heard his voice like twice all season.”
• Ilya Samsonov says the Capitals have a group chat. The Russians have a WhatsApp group also.
• Ilya Samsonov says he uses one hockey stick per game. “Mostly I give them away more than I break them to kids.”
• Ilya Samsonov’s motto that helps him as a goalie: “Work, work work.”
• What quality makes an elite goalie. Ilya Samsonov: “You have to be cold-blooded confident and you have to be a team player and not worry about personal accolades.”
• Ilya Samsonov said he “100 percent hates” sitting on the bench as a backup. “You are bored and hungry and want chocolate and bananas.”
• Samsonov wears number 30 because he had to give up his number in Russia from 51. They made him be number 1. He didn’t like it and took 30.
• Ilya Samsonov says he had times when he wanted to quit the sport. His first year away. He wanted to go back to Magnitogorsk.
• Samsonov said the Caps have him talk to a shrink like with the other goalies.
• Samsonov said his visa expired on April 6th and he needs to deal with that.
• Samsonov said in his opinion, he doesn’t believe the season will re-start up. People’s health is more important than hockey and it would be impossible to play in New York and New Jersey.
• Asked if Braden Holtby gives him advice, Samsonov says the trainers do. The language barrier makes it difficult.
• Samsonov says that Evgeny Kuznetsov picks him up for games and they go together.
• Ilya Samsonov’s advice to young goalies: “Always stay yourself, be a good person, don’t change, and listen to your trainers and coaches.”