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Ilya Samsonov becomes first goalie in Capitals history to record at least one point in each of his first eight decisions of a season

By Ian Oland

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November 25, 2021 1:19 am

Ilya Samsonov came into Wednesday’s game against the Montreal Canadiens with a long shutout streak. He left it with a new franchise record of a different kind.

After backstopping Washington to a 6-3 win, Samsonov became the first goaltender in Capitals history to record at least one point in each of his first eight decisions of a season per NHL PR.

Samsonov’s record this season is 7-0-1.

The keyword in the this distinction is decisions.

Sammy did not take the loss in a November 4 game against the Florida Panthers, where he took himself out of the game before puck drop, returned minutes later, and then was pulled after giving up three goals in 25 minutes. He also earned the Capitals a standings point during an October 23 matchup against the Calgary Flames after Peter Laviolette pulled Vitek Vanecek in his favor. The Capitals overcame a three-goal deficit only to lose in overtime.

Samsonov also had an opportunity to potentially have the longest shutout streak in team history on Wednesday but fell just short after a costly John Carlson turnover in the first period. Sammy’s shutout streak ended at 170:13, the fifth-longest in Capitals history.

Only Jim Carey has kept a puck out of the net longer.

Sammy has played well during this stretch, posting a .920 save percentage and three shutouts. He was named the NHL’s second star last week.

Headline photo: Elizabeth Kong/RMNB

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