Maple Leafs allegedly decide on Game 5 starting goaltender
Toronto has no choice but to win three straight against Boston to avoid another Round 1 exit.
The Toronto Maple Leafs are in a precarious position, facing the looming threat of another first-round postseason exit. Currently trailing the Boston Bruins three games to one, their recent losses at Scotiabank Arena have amplified the pressure. Should they falter in tomorrow night's Game 5 at TD Garden, their season would conclude in disappointment despite a promising regular season campaign.
After he allowed three Bruins goals through the first two periods in Game 4, goaltender Ilya Samsonov was yanked from the net in favor of Joseph Woll. And right now, the question on the minds of Leafs fans is which goaltender will be between the pipes tomorrow night.
Head coach Sheldon Keefe wouldn't reveal his plan, instead choosing to say that his team needs to improve in the areas of goaltending and special teams.
“Special teams and goaltending are two areas that we have to be better in,” Keefe said. “They’re connected in lots of ways. They’ve had the edge in those areas and that’s tough to overcome......we got to take steps there.”
But the hints about who gets the start tomorrow were in plain sight. According to Insider Mark Masters, Woll didn't stay on the ice after practice as is the tendency for the next game's backup:
Despite being injured during the regular season, Woll posted a record of 12-11-1 with a 2.94 goals against average and .907 save percentage.
While no official announcement has been made, it does look as though Woll will be tasked with guiding the Leafs to victory in their must-win situation tomorrow night at Boston's TD Garden.
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