Samsonov replaces Vanecek after four goals vs. Bruins originally appeared on NBC Sports Washington
After conceding four unanswered goals in the first 40 minutes of Friday night’s contest with the Boston Bruins, Capitals head coach Peter Laviolette chose to make a change in net.
Just before the second period came to a close, Ilya Samsonov replaced Vitek Vanecek. Making his fourth appearance of the season and his second since a bout with coronavirus kept him away from the ice for several weeks.
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Samsonov started the first three games of the season before Vitek Vanecek stepped into the crease in his absence. In Vanecek’s previous 18 games in net, the Capitals were 10-4-3 and it seemed as though the 25-year-old rookie had a firm grip on the starting spot after Samsonov returned.
Prior to Friday night, Vanecek ranked seventh among NHL goaltenders with a .910 save percentage. Vanecek produced 14 saves on 18 shots against the Bruins before being pulled. None of the four Bruins goals scored on Vanecek appeared to result from individual mistakes.
At the start of the season, Laviolette indicated that he had no intention of splitting duties between Samsonov and Vanecek.
