BREAKING: Maple Leafs Make Controversial Decision on Tonight's Starter vs The Predators
In breaking news, the Toronto Maple Leafs have decided who will start in net tonight, and it has some fans confused, raising eyebrows about the decision.
Leafs Decide to Start Samsonov After Missing Practices Due to Illness
The Toronto Maple Leafs seem to be cursed this year with the injury bug, as they have seemingly lost half their starting defensemen to injury and now have lost Joseph Woll, arguably their best goaltender, to a high ankle sprain.
For tonight's game, there were many questions surrounding who would get the nod in net given Woll's absence. Ilya Samsonov, Woll's counterpart, had missed several practices due to injury, which is why the Leafs were forced to call up Martin Jones from the Marlies. Jones closed out the win against the Senators after Woll went out with an injury.
Martin Jones will back him up, called up on an emergency basis due to Ilya Samsonov being out with an illness.
With Samsonov missing so many practices, many anticipated Jones would have his first start with the Leafs. However, it was announced today that Samsonov would get the start.
Samsonov has had a rough start to the season, not coming out in the same form he had in the playoffs last year for the Leafs. He has a 3.58 GAA and .878 save percentage and has been pulled twice already this year.
Hopefully, with Woll being out for the next few weeks, Samsonov can use this push to find his game.
As seen on Maple Leafs Daily - "Leafs make confusing, controversial decision on who will start in net against Nashville"
| POLL | ||
DECEMBRE 9 | 448 ANSWERS BREAKING: Maple Leafs Make Controversial Decision on Tonight's Starter vs The Predators Who do you think should have got the nod tonight? | ||
| Samsonov | 242 | 54 % |
| Jones | 206 | 46 % |
| List of polls | ||
![Feb 13, 2025; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; [Imagn Images direct customers only] Team USA forward Auston Matthews (34) looks on against Team Finland in the second period during a 4 Nations Face-Off ice hockey game at Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: David Kirouac-Imagn Images](https://i.marqueur.com/habsetlnh/medium/531249.webp "Feb 13, 2025; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; [Imagn Images direct customers only] Team USA forward Auston Matthews (34) looks on against Team Finland in the second period during a 4 Nations Face-Off ice hockey game at Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: David Kirouac-Imagn Images")
![Feb 13, 2025; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; [Imagn Images direct customers only] Team USA forward Auston Matthews (34) looks on against Team Finland in the first period during a 4 Nations Face-Off ice hockey game at Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: David Kirouac-Imagn Images](https://i.marqueur.com/habsetlnh/medium/531292.webp "Feb 13, 2025; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; [Imagn Images direct customers only] Team USA forward Auston Matthews (34) looks on against Team Finland in the first period during a 4 Nations Face-Off ice hockey game at Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: David Kirouac-Imagn Images")
