Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Ilya Samsonov. John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports

Maple Leafs forced to make shocking goalie switch for Game 7

By Adam Gretz | Last updated 5/4/24

The Toronto Maple Leafs are turning to goalie Ilya Samsonov for Game 7 of their first-round series against the Boston Bruins on Saturday night, a shocking twist in the series before the winner-take-all game.

Joseph Woll had started Games 5 and 6 of the series and backstopped the Maple Leafs to consecutive wins to push the series to a seventh game, allowing just two goals in the process. But he is not getting the Game 7 start and is not even available as the team's backup.

It is believed that Woll was injured in the closing seconds of the Maple Leafs' Game 6 win as the Bruins scrambled to score what turned out to be a meaningless goal in their 2-1 win.

Here is a look at the play where it is believed the injury happened.

The panel discusses the possible Joseph Woll injury ahead of Game 7. pic.twitter.com/IOtiZuq1Nt
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) May 4, 2024

Veteran goalie Martin Jones will be on the bench behind Samsonov.
This is a potentially huge development because Samsonov has struggled in the series, allowing 12 goals in his four starts for a .883 save percentage. Toronto is just 1-3 in his starts.

The Maple Leafs won both of Woll's starts as he posted a .964 save percentage by stopping 94 of the 96 shots he faced in the back-to-back wins.

There is some good news for Toronto, however. Superstar forward Auston Matthews, the NHL's leading goal-scorer, was on the ice for pre-game warmups and is expected to play after missing the past two games.

The goalie news, however, could end up being bigger than even that. It is another unexpected twist in a series that has already had more than anybody could have expected at the start of it.

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