Washington Capitals goaltender Ilya Samsonov returned to practice on Monday after testing positive for COVID-19 on January 19. After 20 days in quarantine and listed on NHL COVID-19 protocol, Samsonov, via an interpreter during today’s media availability, described battling the virus.
Samsonov said there were several “challenging” days where he felt sick. He had trouble breathing and walking, but is at a point currently that he is comfortable.
Ilya Samsonov, who tested positive for the coronavirus on Jan. 19, said, via an interpreter, there were a few days that were challenging for him. Had trouble breathing and walking. Couple days he felt pretty sick.
He said he is at the point now that he is comfortable.
— Samantha Pell (@SamanthaJPell) February 8, 2021
Head coach Peter Laviolette said on Sunday that Samsonov and center Evgeny Kuznetsov have been cleared to begin workouts. The 23-year-old did work with goaltending coach Scott Murray before practice started. Laviolette said during today’s post-practice media session that Samsonov remains day-to-day.
Samsonov is working with Coach Murray and the other goalies ahead of practice. #Caps pic.twitter.com/wMmXf9zzyN
— Tarik El-Bashir (@Tarik_ElBashir) February 8, 2021
Samsonov and Kuznetsov were removed from the league’s COVID-19 protocol list earlier this evening.
Good news, good news, good news#ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/iOklnBLz5X
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) February 8, 2021
By Della Young
