TORONTO – Ilya Samsonov was stable in his first begin since Dec. 29. Nonetheless, the Toronto Maple Leafs did not get him a win.
Andrew Copp scored the go-ahead aim with 1:40 remaining within the third interval and the Detroit Purple Wings handed the Maple Leafs their third consecutive loss with a 4-2 resolution on Sunday. Samsonov made 20 saves in his fifth straight loss beginning in internet.
“He battled his (butt) off,” Toronto head coach Sheldon Keefe mentioned of Samsonov. “It’s the perfect I assumed he’s regarded all season simply by way of monitoring the puck and among the saves regarded just like the Sammy that we got here to know final season so I believe it is a optimistic step for him.”
“He made a few huge saves for us all through the sport,” ahead Mitch Marner added. “It was nice to listen to the followers chant his title and provides him the love he deserves.”
Samsonov was waived Dec. 31 after which joined the Maple Leafs’ American Hockey League affiliate, the Toronto Marlies. He was recalled by the Leafs on Wednesday, with rookie netminder Dennis Hildeby being loaned to the Marlies.
Samsonov was introduced the starter earlier Sunday by Keefe and had a 5-2-6 report on the season getting into the sport. He went 1-1-3 in December, incomes a shutout within the win earlier than surrendering 21 targets in 4 straight losses.
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However Samsonov mentioned he felt good Sunday and taking issues step-by-step is his “mission.”
“First one, I’m so comfortable to be right here,” Samsonov mentioned. “I misplaced a few weeks, I bought a while for me. Coming again at present, I believe I’m seeing puck actually good. … I really feel good. Somewhat bit (I) reset my thoughts. … Laborious to speak about outcome.”
Keefe felt his staff simply fell brief offensively within the second recreation of a back-to-back set.
“Not sufficient offence for us right here tonight,” he mentioned. “They defended nicely … the (Max) Domi breakaway, I’d say, was one of many solely occasions we actually bought behind them in the entire recreation.
“I assumed that they performed a reasonably easy recreation that means defensively and because of this, you bought to essentially earn your offence and we weren’t capable of get sufficient going there.”
Dylan Larkin, Daniel Sprong and Lucas Raymond additionally scored for Detroit (22-16-5), which gained for the fifth time in its final six video games and likewise performed the second recreation of a back-to-back. James Reimer made 28 saves.
“Actually distinctive 24 hours … climate, mechanical points, it was loopy. To point out up for a 7 p.m. (ET) hockey recreation within the Nationwide Hockey League at 6:15 (p.m.) could be very distinctive and strange,” Purple Wings head coach Derek Lalonde mentioned, referring to the half-hour delay to the sport’s begin with Detroit travelling over from Los Angeles.
“However I assumed our guys dealt with it fairly nicely. There was issues we couldn’t management. Within the final 24 hours, the one factor we may management was our effort and our execution tonight and it was a reasonably good job from the fellows.”
Pontus Holmberg and Marner, along with his 600th profession level, replied for Toronto (21-12-8) in entrance of 18,772 in attendance at Scotiabank Enviornment.
“We clearly performed a adequate recreation to win it,” Marner mentioned. “Simply little errors, (powerful) bounce on the one aim with (Morgan Rielly) breaking his stick however clearly not comfortable about it.”
Holmberg opened the scoring 32 seconds into the second interval, tipping in a Rielly level shot.
Larkin knotted the competition with 4:21 remaining within the center body with a wrist shot that beat Samsonov glove facet.
Marner restored Toronto’s lead with 1:42 left within the second on a tap-in aim off a feed from Tyler Bertuzzi.
Sprong evened the rating 2:46 into the third interval. Rielly broke his stick trying a degree shot, and Alex DeBrincat sprung Sprong on a breakaway and he beat Samsonov with a backhand.
Copp put the Purple Wings forward simply moments after the group was chanting “Sammy” following a sprawling save on DeBrincat by Samsonov.
Raymond scored an empty-netter with 18.9 seconds remaining.
UP NEXT
Maple Leafs: Head to Edmonton to open a four-game street journey in opposition to the red-hot Oilers on Tuesday.
Purple Wings: Fly south to Florida to face the Panthers on Wednesday.
This report by The Canadian Press was first printed Jan. 14, 2024.
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