Samsonov allowed three goals on 29 shots in the Capitals win in New Jersey on Saturday. Braden Holtby started the last two games but Samsonov will start the second game of their home-and-home with the Jets. Samsonov has gone 0-3-0 with an ugly 4.55 GAA and .855 SV% in his last four outings (three starts). It is the ugliest stretch of his season but he'll face a Winnipeg team that is also on a three-game losing skid.

Samsonov missed last Tuesday's game vs. the Kings and served as Braden Holtby's backup on Saturday. With Holtby having a rough outing vs. the Flyers, the Capitals will come back to Samsonov tonight vs. the Islanders. Samsonov is 7-1-0 with a 1.86 GAA and .937 SV% in his last nine outings (seven starts) and has stopped 32 of the 33 shots that he's faced (.970 SV%) in four periods vs. the Islanders this season.

Samsonov took an Alex Ovechkin shot up-high and was forced to leave today's game-day skate. Braden Holtby was already in-line to get the start anyways but now Samsonov may not be available to backup. Vitek Vanecek will be recalled to backup just in case Samsonov isn't 100 percent.

Samsonov stopped all seven shots that he faced after replacing Braden Holtby in the Capitals' come-from-behind win over the Islanders on January 18th. Holtby ended up starting the last two games, but Samsonov draws a terrific matchup tonight in Ottawa. He stopped 26 of 27 shots in a 6-1 win in his first start vs. the Senators.

Samsonov stopped all seven shots that he faced after replacing Braden Holtby in the Capitals' come-from-behind win over the Islanders on January 18th. Holtby ended up starting the last two games, but Samsonov draws a terrific matchup tonight in Ottawa. He stopped 26 of 27 shots in a 6-1 win in his first start vs. the Senators.

Samsonov stopped all 23 shots that he faced in the Capitals shutout win over the Hurricanes on Monday. Samsonov has won four in a row with a 1.24 GAA .958 SV% and one shutout and now leads the NHL with a 2.11 GAA and is seventh in with a .925 SV%. In his first game against New Jersey, he stopped 24 of 27 shots in a 6-3 win in a 6-3 win in his first game against them this season.

Samsonov stopped 26 of 27 shots in the Capitals win over the Senators last Tuesday. Braden Holtby started the last two games but they'll come back to Samsonov tonight vs. the Hurricanes. He has won three straight while posing a 1.64 GAA and .948 SV% since Christmas, with one of those wins being a 38-save performance in a 4-3 win in Carolina on January 3rd.

Samsonov allowed three goals on 41 shots in the Capitals 4-3 win in Carolina last Friday. It was another terrific outing for Samsonov, who has gone 6-0-0 with a 1.95 GAA and .927 SV% in his last seven outings (six starts). He's been solid on home-ice, going 3-2-1 with a 2.54 GAA and .918 SV% and is a must-start vs. a Senators team that has lost nine of their last 10 road games while scoring 2.10 goals per game.

Samsonov allowed three goals on 41 shots in the Capitals 4-3 win in Carolina last Friday. It was another terrific outing for Samsonov, who has gone 6-0-0 with a 1.95 GAA and .927 SV% in his last seven outings (six starts). He's been solid on home-ice, going 3-2-1 with a 2.54 GAA and .918 SV% and is a must-start vs. a Senators team that has lost nine of their last 10 road games while scoring 2.10 goals per game.

Samsonov allowed one goal on 28 shots in the Capitals win over the Blue Jackets last Friday. The Capitals continue to ride Holtby even though Samsonov has been the better netminder as of late. He was 4-0-0 with a 1.71 GAA and .927 SV% in December and is 10-2-1 with a 2.28 GAA and .918 SV% overall on the year.

Samsonov allowed one goal on four shots after replacing Braden Holtby in the Capitals' blowout loss in Boston before the break. In his previous four starts, Samsonov has gone 4-0-0 while posting a 2.01 GAA and .924 SV% and draws a solid matchup with the Blue Jackets in town. Columbus is banged up but they've thrived against Washington this season--outscoring them 8-to-2 in the first two meetings.

Samsonov allowed one goal on four shots after replacing Braden Holtby in the Capitals' blowout loss in Boston before the break. In his previous four starts, Samsonov has gone 4-0-0 while posting a 2.01 GAA and .924 SV% and draws a solid matchup with the Blue Jackets in town. Columbus is banged up but they've thrived against Washington this season--outscoring them 8-to-2 in the first two meetings.

Samsonov allowed two goals on 28 shots in the Capitals win in Tampa Bay last Saturday. The 22-year-old doesn't play often but has been great when he's in the crease, going 8-2-1 with a 2.38 GAA and .918 SV% in 10 starts and one relief appearances. Of those 10 starts, six of them have come on the road where he is 6-0-0.

Samsonov allowed one goal on 23 shots in the Capitals' win in Los Angeles on December 4th. Braden Holtby started the last three games but Samsonov will start the first of Washington's two-game road trip. The 22-year-old has been impressive this season, going 7-2-1 with a 2.42 GAA and .917 SV% but has a brutal road matchup against a Lightning team that is second in the NHL in goal-scoring (3.57 GF/gm).

Samsonov allowed two goals on 27 shots in the Capitals win in Detroit on Saturday. The win snapped a brief two-game losing skid for Samsonov, who finished November at 2-1-1 with a 2.73 GAA and .914 SV%. Tonight he faces a Kings team that has won seven of their last nine (7-1-1) home games while scoring 3.33 goals per game.

Samsonov allowed four goals on 39 shots in the Capitals loss to the Canadiens on November 15th. Braden Holtby started the last six games but Samsonov will star the second-half of their back-to-back tonight in Detroit. He is 3-0-0 with a 2.28 GAA and .918 SV% on the road this year and has the best spot-start matchup of any goalie tonight.

Washington was forced to send Samsonov to the AHL because they needed a 12th forward and Samsonov's cap-hit is higher than Vitek Vanecek's who backed up Braden Holtby for the last two games. Samsonov will likely reassume that duty on Wednesday night.

Don't panic, Samsonov isn't going anywhere. This is a cap move to allow the Capitals to bring up Travis Boyd to dress as a 12th forward on Saturday. Samsonov probably won't even leave the team and Vitek Vanecek will be sent down and Samsonov will be "recalled" when either Nic Dowd or Carl Hagelin are healthy.