Ilya Samsonov

Ilya Samsonov endures ‘shoot to the balls’ to beat Vitek Vanecek in first head-to-head matchup: ‘We still the friends’

The Washington Capitals jettisoned their young goaltending tandem this past offseason as they non-tendered former first-round pick Ilya Samsonov and traded former second-round pick Vitek Vanecek.

The two goalies and former close friends in Hershey quickly moved on to new teams as Samsonov signed a free-agent deal with the Toronto Maple Leafs and Vanecek settled into the starting spot in the New Jersey Devils net.

Despite being on Eastern Conference teams, Sammy and Vitek avoided a direct matchup against one another until Tuesday night. The Leafs and Devils did battle inside Prudential Center and Samsonov came out on top in a 4-3 victory.

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By Chris Cerullo 9 months ago

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Maple Leafs to start Ilya Samsonov for third time this season against Capitals

The Washington Capitals are making the trip up to Toronto to take on the Maple Leafs in the first of their last two games before the All-Star break. Waiting for them in Toronto will be former Caps goaltender Ilya Samsonov.

With Matt Murray dealing with an ankle injury of unspecified severity, Samsonov is scheduled to make his seventh start in a row for the Leafs. It will also already be the third time Sammy comes up against his former club in his first season since departing DC.

Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported the news on Twitter.

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By Chris Cerullo 10 months ago

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Ilya Samsonov: ‘I think I play bad’ against Capitals. That was a ‘hard loss for me.’

Former Washington Capitals goaltender Ilya Samsonov was in net for the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday for his first game in DC since being non-tendered by the Caps over the offseason.

Unlike his successful first start against the Caps in Toronto earlier this season, Samsonov was far less effective and struggled during the 5-2 loss inside Capital One Arena. The five goals against were a season-high with the Leafs.

Samsonov spoke postgame about playing his former team and how he felt about his return game.

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By Chris Cerullo 12 months ago

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Ilya Samsonov is starting against the Capitals tonight for the first time in DC. Evgeny Kuznetsov: ‘I don’t have best friends before him.’

Former Capitals goaltender Ilya Samsonov is returning to Washington tonight for the first time since being non-tendered a qualifying offer and signing with the Toronto Maple Leafs over the offeseason.

While his first start should be intriguing, it’ll also be weird for some of his former teammates.

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By Faith Harris 12 months ago

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Darcy Kuemper versus the ex-goalies, Ilya Samsonov and Vitek Vanecek

Yesterday we ran a story about Vitek Vanecek and the New Jersey Devils’ absurd winning streak. Afterwards, on Discord, Ian and I had a little spat about how responsible Vanecek has been for the Devils’ success. For the record, Ian was perfectly correct when he said that Vanecek has been “no-doubt buoyed by a Devils team that is one of the best in the NHL early in the season.”

In reply to our story, we received a genre of comments that I call “should of kept.” This can apply to any player who has left Washington and gone on to enjoy success. To compare their performances to that of their replacements in Washington is understandable. It’s inevitable to do it. I do it. Actually, let’s all do it right now.

Let’s compare Washington’s old goalies, Ilya Samsonov and Vitek Vanecek, to their new number-one, Darcy Kuemper.

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By Peter Hassett 1 year ago

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Ilya Samsonov injured his knee during a penalty shot by Brad Marchand

Ex-Caps goalie/current Leafs goalie Ilya Samsonov left Toronto’s game early on Saturday night. He suffered an apparent knee injury while facing a penalty shot from Boston Bruins forward Brad Marchand.

Now on injured reserve, Samsonov will be out at least a week, though a precise timeline awaits the results of an MRI.

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By Peter Hassett 1 year ago

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Leafs already facing goalie drama after ‘injured all the time’ Matt Murray pulls up lame during morning skate

The Toronto Maple Leafs are coming off a victory in their Home Opener over the Washington Capitals on Thursday. In that game, Ilya Samsonov beat his former Caps mates as he starred in net for the Leafs for the first time.

It looks like Sammy could be getting more work in the near future as his goaltending battery mate Matt Murray injuried his groin during the team’s morning skate on Saturday. The Leafs play the Ottawa Senators later this evening.

Murray’s injury could put the Leafs in a bit of a pickle when it comes to their roster.

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By Chris Cerullo 1 year ago

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Ilya Samsonov was ‘so happy’ after beating Capitals, jokes former teammates said ‘lots of bad words’ to him

The Washington Capitals cut Ilya Samsonov loose over the offseason, opting not to tender the talented young netminder a qualifying offer after a career-worst season. Samsonov moved on with the Toronto Maple Leafs, signing a one-year prove-it deal with the salary cap-strapped team.

Samsonov did not have to wait long for a revenge game against his former team. Thursday, Sammy debuted for Toronto in front of his new home fans and against his old teammates.

Samsonov gave up two goals on his first nine shots but stopped the next 10 he faced, leading the Leafs to their first victory of the season.

After the game, Samsonov posed with the milestone win puck — he later shared the photo on his Instagram Story proudly — and talked about what it was like going up against his comrades from DC.

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By Ian Oland 1 year ago

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Toronto Maple Leafs will start Ilya Samsonov against the Capitals on Thursday

The Washington Capitals open the 2022-23 season with an immediate challenge. They play back-to-back games against two Eastern Conference teams that made the playoffs last season. Game One on Wednesday will be the Capitals’ Home Opener – a nationally televised game against the Boston Bruins – and Game Two will serve as a great measuring stick between two tired teams.

The Capitals will fly up to Toronto to take on the 54-win Maple Leafs at Scotiabank Arena. The game will serve as the Leafs’ Home Opener after they play the Montreal Canadiens the night before.

Maple Leafs’ head coach Sheldon Keefe will have something fun awaiting the Capitals when they take the ice. Keefe will start former Capital Ilya Samsonov in net.

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By Ian Oland 1 year ago

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Capitals players say they will ‘miss Sammy and Vitek’ as the two young goaltenders move on with other teams

The National Hockey League can be a harsh business. Playing a kid’s game as an adult can net a king’s ransom, but it also means being treated like a commodity and having to leave your friendships at the door.

Capitals players are experiencing the latter as they transition into a new year. Over the offseason, general manager Brian MacLellan hit the eject button and jettisoned the young goalie battery of Ilya Samsonov and Vitek Vanecek after two full seasons together. Samsonov signed with the Leafs after not being tendered a qualifying offer by Mac while Vanecek was dealt to division rival New Jersey. Both players grew up in the Capitals’ developmental system and were a duo with the AHL’s Hershey Bears as well.

The Capitals retooled their netminding by signing the top free agent goaltender on the free-agent market, 2022 Stanley Cup champion Darcy Kuemper, and inking backup Charlie Lindgren to a three-year deal. While there’s excitement on what those two tendies can bring, several Caps players were noticeably tore up about Sammy and Vitek being gone at the start of Training Camp.

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By Ian Oland 1 year ago

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