Ilya Samsonov’s time with the Toronto Maple Leafs has begun positively so far, so positively in fact that he has tied a franchise record that has stood since the late 1960s.
Through his first 13 games wearing the white and blue, Samsonov has been in impressive form with a 2.07 goals against average, while also sporting a .924 save percentage, ranking among some of the best goaltenders in the entire NHL. This has helped the Russian guide the Leafs to a solid 10-3-0 record, with two shutouts along the way. However, it is on home ice that he has truly shone so far.
Samsonov has begun his Leafs career with a perfect 9-0-0 record, which puts him into the history books for the franchise as it is the longest winning home stretch to start a season by a goaltender. The record, which is jointly held by Bruce Gamble, was set during the 1967-68 season, one year after the Leafs’ last Stanley Cup triumph, between October and January. Should Samsonov pick up a victory in his next home fixture, it will see him outright claim a unique franchise record after just a short time since arriving as a free agent this summer.
Samsonov’s efforts thus far have seen him already live up to the one-year, $1.8 million contract he signed p …

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Author: James Reeve / The Leafs Nation