The Toronto Maple Leafs were forced to make a move out of desperation, as goaltender Ilya Samsonov is now week to week with a lower body injury he suffered during Saturday night's win over the Boston Bruins. Of course, that's in addition to starter Matt Murray already on the shelf with an adductor injury.
Not wanting the young Erik Kallgren to be all by his lonesome, the Leafs have inked Toronto Marlies goaltender Keith Petruzzelli to an entry level contract. And he was informed of the news on Saturday night shortly after making 26 saves in a victory over the Belleville Senators.
“That was literally the first time I found out anything about it,” Petruzzelli said. “I was just playing a game in Belleville. I had no idea until that moment.”
“It has been a little crazy,” he continued. “I haven’t gotten a lot of sleep and there has been a lot of travel and a lot of excitement. It was super exciting just to be here and take it all in.”
The 23 year-old, 6'5 towering goaltender has put up solid numbers so far this season with the Marlies, going 6-0 while posting a .922 save percentage.
“It has been a whirlwind but it has been great,” Petruzzelli said Sunday of the sudden callup. “I put a lot of work in my whole life. It is a really special moment the way it was done [Saturday] night.”
He served as backup to Kallgren during Sunday's 2-1 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes in Raleigh, and he'll once again be in that role tonight at Scotiabank Arena as the Leafs host Phil Kessel and the Vegas Golden Knights.
