Ilya Samsonov caught consorting with the enemy on Saturday.
Ilya Samsonov shared a pretty cool moment with a long time friend and rival during Saturday's morning skate.
It's just a typical Saturday in the National Hockey League, but for Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Ilya Samsonov this might be one of the happiest days of the season. Not only did Samsonov learn that his good friend Ilya Lyubushkin would be returning to the Maple Leafs this week after the Leafs acquired him in a trade with the Anaheim Ducks, but he will get the chance to spend some time with another one of his good friends on Saturday night.
Samsonov and the Maple Leafs will welcome the New York Rangers to Scotiabank Arena on Saturday night but for Samsonov it will be a little extra special with good friend Igor Shesterkin holding down the net at the other end of the ice. Shesterkin and Samsonov's friendship has been no secret around the NHL, and in fact the two long time friends were busted spending a little extra time together on Saturday morning.
During the Maple Leafs skate, a gentleman that very closely resembles the New York Rangers goaltender snuck into the arena to share a few words with Samsonov on the sidelines.
It's pretty awesome to see a pair of dudes that have flown halfway around the world to ply their craft get to share a moment together like this, but that isn't likely to affect either of them when they step out onto the ice tonight. Samsonov made it clear that facing a tough opponent like the Rangers is already plenty of motivation.
"What time you play against Rangers you don't need extra motivation," said Samsonov during his media scrum. "Every knows who is this team."
