The Toronto Maple Leafs are still in Stanley Cup contention after staving off elimination, winning last night’s Game 4 against the Florida Panthers 2-1. The victory came in large part due to the strong play of rookie netminder Joseph Woll, who stopped 24 of 25 shots and saved 2.02 goals above expected (MoneyPuck).
They’ll have to turn to Woll again for Game 5, as head coach Sheldon Keefe told reporters this morning that starter Ilya Samsonov remains unavailable with an upper-body injury. Samsonov left early in the second period of Game 3 after Maple Leafs defender Luke Schenn barrelled into him while defending a Panthers rush. Toronto’s starter for much of the season, Samsonov had been largely passable in the postseason, making key saves despite a .898 save percentage on the whole during the postseason. While Woll has just 14 combined regular-season and playoff games in his NHL career, he has a combined 10-3-0 record and has posted save percentages well over .900.
Other injury notes from the playoff landscape this morning:
- Keefe also revealed to reporters forward Matthew Knies’ concussion symptoms are improving after missing Games 3 and 4, but he’s not yet ready to return to the lineup. Knies was knocked out of Game 2 in the first period, sustaining the concussion on a hit from Panthers center Sam Bennett. The rookie forward had cemented himself in a top-six role by the time of his injury, recording four points in his first seven playoff games.
- Carolina Hurricanes netminder Antti Raanta said he’s recovered from an illness that kept him out for the past three games, meaning he’ll back up Frederik Andersen tonight for a potentially series-clinching Game 5. Raanta started the first five games of Carolina’s First Round series against the New York Islanders but has since been superseded by Andersen, who’s posted a 4-0-0 record and .930 save percentage in five starts.
Bennett again end of game yesterday punching a guys head when he’s on the ice and already tied up.
Hate the Leafs or not, Bennett is just slime who’s trying to injure
Leafs will be looking to put him in his place next game. Bennett is a punk who never lived up to the hype so turned into a rat.
Hahahaha. Sure they will.
He already knocked Knies out. What was their response?
Who from the Leafs is going to stand up to Bennett? The only player who would is Simmonds and he’s too slow to get ice time.
Schenn, McCabe
@motown
Why do u act like standing up to Bennett would take anyone special? It’s Sam Bennett, I don’t think anyone is intimidated by him.
If the Leafs weren’t intimidated by him why didn’t they stand up to him in the first place? The Panthers ran over the Leafs all series at will. Yeah lots of tough guys in blue out there.