Toronto Maple Leafs’ Ilya Samsonov leaves game early with knee injury

The Toronto Maple Leafs announced before the third period of Saturday night’s game against the Boston Bruins that goaltender Ilya Samsonov would not be returning due to a knee injury.

Maple Leafs goaltender Ilya Samsonov will not return to tonight’s game due to injury (knee)

— Leafs PR (@LeafsPR) November 6, 2022

It’s currently unclear when the injury occurred during the game, as well as the severity of the injury. Samsonov didn’t appear to be struggling during the game before he left either.

Samsonov had stopped 13 of 14 shots in the game, allowing his only goal on a penalty shot attempt from Brad Marchand. Erik Kallgren replaced Samsonov in the third period, stopping all seven shots in faced in relief to secure the 2-1 win for the Leafs.

Samsonov has been off to a strong start in Toronto this season, as before Saturday’s game, he had a 5-2-0 record, a .920 save percentage, and 4.9 5v5 goals saved above expected, the sixth best total in the league.

Originally a first round pick by the Washington Capitals in 2015, Samsonov joined the Leafs in the offseason after the Caps decided not to qualify him as an RFA, signing for one year at $1.8 million. He’ll be a restricted free agent at the end of the season.

Based on the team’s current depth chart, Kallgren will assume the Leafs starting role for the time being, as the Leafs other NHL level goalie, Matt Murray, is on long-term injured reserve with an abductor injury. Kallgren is 0-1-2 on the year before Saturday’s game, with a .875 save percentage and 0.77 5v5 goals saved above expected.

Along with both Samsonov and Murray’s injuries, the Leafs have forward Kyle Clifford on injured reserve and defensemen Jordie Benn and Jake Muzzin on LTIR, with the latter potentially not able to play again. They did just get defenseman Timothy Liljegren in the lineup on Saturday for the first time this season, after he underwent sports hernia surgery at the start of training camp.