Sheldon Keefe hits back at reporters

The Toronto Maple Leafs find themselves leading their Round 1 Stanley Cup Playoffs series against the Tampa Bay Lightning two games to one following their overtime victory on Saturday night at Amalie Arena. And not only did 2019 Conn Smythe Trophy winner Ryan O'Reilly play a major role in the win by netting the game-tying goal late in regulation, but goaltender Ilya Samsonov turned in arguably his finest career postseason performance. 

Samsonov made 36 saves, including shutting down several Grade A scoring chances by Tampa Bay in the third period and in overtime, perhaps none bigger than denying Russian sniper Nikita Kucherov. However, media members were a bit puzzled when Samsonov wasn't made available to speak to them after the game. 

However, Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe wasn't in the mood to get into why that decision was made, instead offering a sarcastic quip in response. 

"Have you been talking to (Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Andrei) Vasilevskiy in this series?" Keefe replied when asked why Samsonov wasn't available to talk afterward. 

A reporter then hit back by saying that Toronto media members don't typically speak to the Maple Leafs opposition, Keefe had this to say: 

"Let's just let them play goal," he said. 

Game 4 between the Lightning and Maple Leafs is tonight from Amalie Arena starting at 7:30 PM EST.