Samsonov 'unbelievable' for Capitals in Game 3 win
Makes 29 saves against Panthers in first start this postseason
"I was close to crying," Samsonov said after making 29 saves in the Capitals' 6-1 victory against the Florida Panthers in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference First Round on Saturday.
Moments like this have been fleeting for the Capitals goalies this season, which has been filled with highs and lows for Samsonov and Vitek Vanecek. So Samsonov appreciated the expression of support during the third period of his first Stanley Cup Playoff victory.
Making his first start of this season's playoffs, Samsonov was the player perhaps most responsible for the Capitals taking a 2-1 lead in the best-of-7 series. Game 4 is in Washington on Monday.
Although the final score was lopsided, Samsonov was a difference-maker when it was close in the second period, stopping all 13 shots he faced to help the Capitals turn a 1-1 tie into a 3-1 lead.
"'Sammy' was unbelievable for us tonight," Capitals forward Marcus Johansson said. "He kept us in it when we needed to. That's the way you need these games to go."
The Capitals had standout performances from several players, including Alex Ovechkin, who had a goal and an assist and set the tone with six hits. Johansson and John Carlson also each had a goal and an assist, and Nicklas Backstrom and Anthony Mantha had two assists apiece.
But because of the questions about goaltending entering the series, Samsonov's performance might have been the most significant one for the Capitals.
Selecting a goalie has been a season-long dilemma for Capitals coach Peter Laviolette, with Samsonov and Vanecek each starting 39 games during the regular season.
RELATED: [Complete Panthers vs. Capitals series coverage]
To begin the series against Florida, Laviolette picked Vanecek, who was marginally more consistent than Samsonov during the regular season, going 20-12-6, with a 2.67 goals-against average, .908 save percentage and four shutouts. Samsonov was 23-12-5, 3.02 GAA, .896 save percentage and three shutouts.
Vanecek rose to the occasion in Game 1 on Tuesday, making 30 saves in Washington's 4-2 victory.
However, he struggled in a 5-1 loss in Game 2 on Thursday, allowing five goals on 19 shots before being replaced by Samsonov after two periods. Samsonov stopped all 17 shots he faced in the third period.
So it was no surprise when Samsonov started Saturday.
"I am ready all the time," said Samsonov, who lost all three of his starts against the Boston Bruins in the first round last season. "Sometimes you start playoffs, sometimes another goalie, but you need to get ready for every game. I understand if you want to win, you need to win 16 games. This is a long period, and you need to get ready for sure."
Samsonov allowed a goal on the second shot he faced Saturday. Jonathan Huberdeau beat him to the glove side from the left circle to give Florida a 1-0 lead 2:45 into the game, but he settled in after that.
Samsonov's best save was also timely. With the score tied 1-1, Huberdeau passed out from behind the net to Claude Giroux, who centered the puck to Aleksander Barkov for what appeared destined to become the go-ahead goal. But Samsonov kicked out his left pad to make the save 9:42 into the second period.
"This is pretty quick," Samsonov said. "I didn't see puck well behind the net. Boom, boom, pass, pass, save. Something like that."
Johansson supplied another boom nine second later at the other end of the ice by lifting a backhand over Florida goalie Sergei Bobrovsky to give Washington a 2-1 lead.
"That is playoff hockey right there," Capitals forward T.J. Oshie said. "Could have been a big one for them. Big save turns momentum, quick break and we pop one in the back of the net. Vitek was phenomenal for us in Game 1, I thought, and Sammy was great for us in Game 3. We have confidence for us in both guys and we are fortunate that we have two guys that we can throw in there and make a difference."
Laviolette mentioned a few times this season that he hoped one of the goalies would step up and grab the No. 1 job, but that never happened. So Vanecek and Samsonov took turns carrying the load and played well enough for the Capitals to get 100 points during the regular season (44-26-12) and earn the second wild card into the playoffs from the Eastern Conference.
The question remains if it will be good enough for the Capitals to knock off the Panthers, who won the Presidents' Trophy as the NHL team with the best record in the regular season (58-18-6, 122 points).
And if the Capitals have to change starting goalies again, that's a formula they're comfortable with.
"We're a successful team, we had 100 points, and our goaltenders were a big part of it," Laviolette said. "It's just the way that it's gone for us with two young goaltenders in their second year. So they both have had really good moments and played really well for stretches. But this is how we've operated for the past two years, and they've done a good job."
