Samsonov shows flashes of No. 1 potential in win vs. Flyers originally appeared on NBC Sports Washington
After missing over a month due to COVID-19, Ilya Samsonov has some catching up to do in the Capitals' goalie race. A performance like he had on Sunday, however, is a step in the right direction.
After allowing another shaky goal in the first period, Samsonov rebounded and did not allow another goal the rest of the game, finishing with 36 saves on 37 shots in a 3-1 win over the Philadelphia Flyers.
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"It was really good," Washington head coach Peter Laviolette said. "I thought [Samsonov] played a really strong game. I thought he had some really big saves, back door saves, saves that you hope your goaltender makes. But they are tough and you know they are tough but he made them all tonight. I thought he played a really good game."
The only goal Samsonov allowed came in the first period on a 2-on-1. Joel Farabee was able to fire a shot right through the 5-hole and, judging from Samsonov's reaction afterward, it was one he knew he should have had.
But as the Caps struggled early on, Samsonov made sure the deficit remained at only one. He was able to move on from the early goal and seemed to grow in confidence as the game went on.
"I thought he played great for us," John Carlson said. "There was plenty of big saves that he made throughout the game when I thought we were working real hard, working good and kind of bringing it to them and they would turn it around with one or two chances here or there and he was huge down the stretch for us."
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Samsonov has always had a frenetic style of play and that was on display at times during scrums in front of the net. As the Flyers tried to force the puck in, Samsonov managed to hold the line in his style of controlled chaos. It may not be the calm, smooth style fans are used to after so many years of Braden Holtby, but it doesn't need to be so long as he keeps the puck out of the net.
But what looked almost desperate early on turned more and more confident as Samsonov continued to shut the door on any attempt at a comeback. His best save came in the third period when he managed to stretch the right pad to the post and deny Jakub Voracek on the doorstep.
Over his past two starts, Samsonov has allowed three goals you would like to see an NHL starter stop. Those three goals, however, are the only three he has given up in 58 total shots. He put the team in a position to win on Sunday and provided the big saves needed in the third period to preserve the lead.
"When a game's on the line, the team has some chances in the third period, I thought [Samsonov] looked really calm and really poised in there," Laviolette said.
With the trade deadline over one month away, the Caps are going to have to make a decision on if they will ride with the two young goalies heading into the playoffs or if the team will need to acquire a goalie from elsewhere. Samsonov's performance on Sunday was a step toward getting back to that No. 1 form from his rookie season in 2019-20.
