Turning to Joseph Woll for Game 5 on the table for Maple Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe

Article content

Sheldon Keefe wouldn’t reveal his starting goaltender for Game 5. 

The Maple Leafs coach didn’t say that he’s going to turn to Joseph Woll rather than give Ilya Samsonov a shot at helping extend Toronto’s playoff hopes on Tuesday night in Boston, only that we’ll find out on Tuesday who is in net.

Keefe, though, dropped some hints that Woll will be the guy with the Leafs season on the line.

“Special teams and goaltending are two areas that we have to be better in,” Keefe said without prompting during a long answer about Game 4. “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.”

That doesn’t sound like confidence in Samsonov, does it?

Woll made five saves in a relief appearance in Game 4, starting the third period after Samsonov allowed three goals on 17 Bruins shots.

Samsonov has not been terrible in the series, but there shouldn’t be much argument if Woll starts on Tuesday. The Leafs would have to hope, though, that Woll’s average play after he returned from a sprained ankle late in the season remains in the past.

Last spring, Woll played well in the second round against the Florida Panthers after Samsonov suffered a neck injury.

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

Try refreshing your browser, or
tap here to see other videos from our team.

Play Video

“He managed it well, it didn’t seem to be too big a moment for him,” Keefe said. “Like the other night, I thought he went in and was calm and did a good job.

“Sammy has done well in the series. He has bounced back at times when we’ve needed him to, coming out of Game 1 and into Game 2 was a good example. 

“There are areas we need to get better in, and getting more saves at critical times is a big part of that. They’re getting lots at the other end.”

tkoshan@postmedia.com

X: @koshtorontosun