Ilya Samsonov injury: HC Keefe shares update after Maple Leafs goalie exits game with apparent injury

Maple Leafs' Ilya Samsonov exit the game against the Oilers in the third period after attempting to make a save. Samsonov attempted to stop Leon Draisaitl's goal, and failed, but in his attempt he appeared to have sustained a lower-body injury.

Samsonov laid face-down on the ice for a while as Maple Leafs medical staff attended to him. Martin Jones padded up and was ready to go as Samsonov slowly got up and made his way to the dressing room.

The Leafs managed to hold onto their lead and kept a steamrolling Oilers at bay in the third period. Auston Matthews made it 6-3 and scored his 58th goal of the season, which was his first empty-net goal.

Ilya Samsonov injury update:

Head coach Sheldon Keefe provided an update on Ilya Samsonov during the post-game interview. Per THN's David Alter, Keefe said -

"He got injured. And it's not anything near what it appeared or what I thought it might have done. I'm not going to give you too many details right now, but it looks like he'll be fine and won't miss any time."

Despite Samsonov being cleared from any major injury, the Maple Leafs may look are expected to start Joseph Woll in their next game against Carolina Hurricanes tomorrow.

Per Elliotte Friedman, the team has already sent Joseph Woll to Carolina today, who was present Leafs roster for tonight's game against the Oilers, but was rested for tomorrow's game.

Ilya Samsonov made 31 saves from 34 shots and had a .912 SV% before his exit from tonight's game. In 33 games this season, the Russian netminder has a .888 SV% (save percentage) and GAA (goals-against average) of 3.12.

Ilya Samsonov recently sustained a hit to "bad zone" in practice

Ahead of Maple Leafs' clash against Carolina Hurricanes last week, Samsonov was visibly in pain during the team's morning skate. Per THN's David Alter, Samsonov did not fully divulge into what happened but said,

"Puck went to the bad zone, sometimes that happens."

Reporters in the room cracked up which prompted a response from a smiling Samsonov,

"Why are you guys smiling?"

Fans were shocked as Ilya Samsonov was placed on waivers by the Maple Leafs in early January after a 5-2-6 record with career-low .862 SV% and 3.94 GAA to start the season. He cleared his waivers and was assigned to the AHL's Toronto Marlies.

Samsonov never played a game for the Marlies and made his NHL return just ten days after being placed on waivers.

The 26-year-old goaltender has since recovered and stabilized the Maple Leafs goal in Joseph Woll's absence. Since playing his first game on 14th Janurary after clearing waivers, Samsonov had a 14-4-1 record with a .91 SV% and 2.55 GAA across a 18-game stretch, entering tonight's game vs Oilers.