Save 25 on 27 shots Ilya SamsonovThis helped to calm the panic among Leafs fans on Saturday morning. Matt MurrayThey skated the morning ahead of their game with The Ottawa SenatorsIn discomfort, Samsonov was put on LTIR later in the day. As the Leafs defeated the Ottawa Senators, 3-2, the Leafs’ new Leaf looked calm in goal.
Let’s continue to take a few deep breaths, shall we, Leafs fans, and read on for tonight’s report cards.
First star
This game reminded me why I’m remarkably comfortable in my belief that Marner is going to have a career year. He excelled early in the game when his line mates didn’t. I was impressed by Marner’s speed in finding loose pucks along boards and his quick recovery from odd-man rushes inside his zone. Marner’s puck movement in the offensive zone was continually high-end, showing the kind of creativity few in the NHL possess. His work to keep the puck in the offensive zone ahead of the Leafs’ second goal made all the difference.
Marner received a secondary assistance on the game-winning goal.
Second star
Ilya Samsonov
How’s my preseason predictionSamsonov would have 32 starts.
