Who Gets the Net for the Toronto Maple Leafs in The Playoffs?
The playoffs are just around the corner and the Toronto Maple Leafs goaltending situation looks a lot different than it did a month ago, with Ilya Samsonov playing his best hockey of the season and Joseph Woll now back from injury, the question remains, who gets the net in the playoffs?
The Toronto Maple Leafs have one of the most intriguing goalie situations in the entire NHL.
Their rotating carousel of Joseph Woll, Ilya Samsonov, and Martin Jones have all taken turns taking over the starting job at some point during the season, with all three going on hot stretches on multiple occasions.
With Woll now back from injury and getting regular starts, the Toronto Maple Leafs have an interesting decision to make when it comes to who starts in net come playoff time.
As we've seen time and time again, goaltending can make or break a team's playoff chances, and whoever starts for the Leafs will be the X-factor this postseason.
Toronto Maple Leafs: Who Gets the Net For The Playoffs?
The race for the playoff starting job is a two-headed race at this point between Woll and Samsonov.
Martin Jones, who was spectacular earlier in the season, has fallen back down to earth. He is still a solid insurance goaltender if the Leafs need him to be, but unless something miraculous happens, he more than likely won't start game 1 of the playoffs.
During the first few months of the season, it was looking like Woll's net to lose. He was arguably the team's MVP before his long-term injury in early December.
In his time on the sidelines, both Jones and Samsonov took over the starting job, with "Sammy" now seemingly taking over the starting job for the time being, even with Woll coming back from injury.
With his start on Thursday vs the Philadelphia Flyers, Samsonov has now started 3 of the past 4 Leafs games.
Personally I would've given Woll the start, especially considering the Leafs had 4 days off between games. In coach Sheldon Keefe's defense, Woll has had two shaky games in the past week, letting in 8 goals and putting up a .846 SV% in two combined games. Whereas Samsonov has been terrific, saving 85/91 shots in his last three games.
I am one of the biggest believers in Joseph Woll, and I predicted last year he would be the Leafs starter come the 2024 playoffs. But if the playoffs started tomorrow, I would bet on Samsonov getting the start.
However, lots can happen between now and the playoffs, which are roughly a month away. By the time the playoffs roll around, I would say Woll earns the starting position back, especially considering he outplayed Samsonov during the playoffs last season.
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Regardless, it's going to be interesting to see who starts in game 1, and the playoffs are sure to be entertaining as always.