OTTAWA, ON – Ilya Samsonov made 30 saves for his fourth shutout of the season and 10th overall and the Toronto Maple Leafs beat the Ottawa Senators 3-0 on Saturday night.
“That’s obviously what you want to see from him,” Maple Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe said. “I didn’t think there was a whole lot of offense either way in the game here tonight, but certainly they probably had the better of the chances, I would say, in the game. He was excellent.”
Michael Bunting, William Nylander and Radim Zohorna — playing his first game with Toronto — each scored to help the Maple Leafs improve to 44-20-10.
The Senators are six points back of the Florida Panthers, who hold the final wild-card berth in the Eastern Conference
“We know the situation ahead of us,” coach D.J. Smith said. “We’ve just got to win tomorrow, it’s that simple.”
Mads Sogaard allowed the three goals on 16 shots in the first two periods. Cam Talbot stopped four shots in the final 20 minutes.
Smith didn’t go into detail but said Sogaard would be unable to travel to Columbus with the team for a game Sunday and that someone would be recalled from Belleville of the AHL.
Bunting opened the scoring early on a wrist shot in the second, taking advantage of a loose puck knocked down by Nick Holden. He wristed it past Sogaard.
Nylander scored midway through the period, his first goal in four games and just his second in the past nine. With under two minutes remaining in the period, Zohorna connected.
“To be a part of this team, to be right next to these big, big players, great players, it’s such an honor,” Zohorna said. “I’m just enjoying every minute here.”
OTTAWA, ON – APRIL 01: Toronto Maple Leafs Center Auston Matthews (34) skates during first period National Hockey League action between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Ottawa Senators on April 1, 2023, at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, ON, Canada. (Photo by Richard A. Whittaker/Icon Sportswire)
OTTAWA, ON – APRIL 01: Ottawa Senators Defenceman Jake Sanderson (85) skates with the puck during first period National Hockey League action between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Ottawa Senators on April 1, 2023, at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, ON, Canada. (Photo by Richard A. Whittaker/Icon Sportswire)
OTTAWA, ON – APRIL 01: Ottawa Senators Goalie Mads Sogaard (40) makes a save during first period National Hockey League action between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Ottawa Senators on April 1, 2023, at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, ON, Canada. (Photo by Richard A. Whittaker/Icon Sportswire)
OTTAWA, ON – APRIL 01: Ottawa Senators Winger Patrick Brown (38) skates during second period National Hockey League action between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Ottawa Senators on April 1, 2023, at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, ON, Canada. (Photo by Richard A. Whittaker/Icon Sportswire)
OTTAWA, ON – APRIL 01: Toronto Maple Leafs Defenceman Luke Schenn (2) battles Ottawa Senators Left Wing Brady Tkachuk (7) during second period National Hockey League action between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Ottawa Senators on April 1, 2023, at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, ON, Canada. (Photo by Richard A. Whittaker/Icon Sportswire)
OTTAWA, ON – APRIL 01: Toronto Maple Leafs Right Wing Mitchell Marner (16) skates with the puck during second period National Hockey League action between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Ottawa Senators on April 1, 2023, at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, ON, Canada. (Photo by Richard A. Whittaker/Icon Sportswire)
OTTAWA, ON – APRIL 01: Toronto Maple Leafs Goalie Ilya Samsonov (35) makes an awkward save during second period National Hockey League action between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Ottawa Senators on April 1, 2023, at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, ON, Canada. (Photo by Richard A. Whittaker/Icon Sportswire)
OTTAWA, ON – APRIL 01: Ottawa Senators Defenceman Tyler Kleven (43) battles Toronto Maple Leafs Center David Kampf (64) in front of Goalie Cam Talbot (33) during third period National Hockey League action between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Ottawa Senators on April 1, 2023, at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, ON, Canada. (Photo by Richard A. Whittaker/Icon Sportswire)
OTTAWA, ON – APRIL 01: Ottawa Senators Left Wing Brady Tkachuk (7) congratulates Referee Marc Joannette (25) on his upcoming retirement after National Hockey League action between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Ottawa Senators on April 1, 2023, at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, ON, Canada. (Photo by Richard A. Whittaker/Icon Sportswire)
OTTAWA, ON – APRIL 01: Toronto Maple Leafs Center Auston Matthews (34) and Goalie Ilya Samsonov (35) congratulates Referee Marc Joannette (25) on his upcoming retirement after National Hockey League action between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Ottawa Senators on April 1, 2023, at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, ON, Canada. (Photo by Richard A. Whittaker/Icon Sportswire)
