Campbell gets nod to face Oilers
Backup goalie Jack Campbell showed the Maple Leafs what they needed to see to name him the probable starter for Saturday night’s game in Edmonton, the opener of an eight-day road trip.
Star centre Auston Matthews, however, isn’t a lock to face Connor McDavid and the Oilers after missing Friday’s practice with a right wrist injury.
One month ago, the Flames’ Matthew Tkachuk land heavily on Campbell in a goalmouth scramble. The netminder finished that game, but has missed 13 since with what’s believed to be a knee injury.
“It’s a tough process, but thankfully we have an amazing staff here, so I didn’t have to do much on my own at all,” Campbell said Friday on a Zoom call, praising the team’s training staff. “They had it all laid out for me ... I feel real confident in my body and ready to perform.”
It was a good news day for the most part on the injury front, with forward Joe Thornton (ribs) and defenceman Jake Muzzin (broken facial bone) and now considered game-time decisions along with Matthews, who aggravated his wrist in a collision early in Wednesday’s win over Calgary.
“He’s a tough customer. We’re lucky to have him on our side,” Campbell said of Matthews, who leads the NHL with 18 goals in 20 games. “Whatever he’s going through, he always puts the team first 100 per cent. It’s incredible what he’s able to do, 100 per cent or not, and I can’t wait to get back to battle with him.”
Starting goalie Frederik Andersen has missed the last two games with a lower-body injury, but will make the trip west. The Leafs split those games with Michael Hutchinson in net.
Andersen’s February numbers (6-2-0, 19 goals against, .917 save percentage) were markedly better than January (5-3-0, 24 goals against, .892). Coach Sheldon Keefe said he remains day-to-day, and they won’t have to rush him back with Campbell returning, despite a busy schedule ahead.
Saturday marks the start of a five-game trip through Edmonton and Vancouver. Andersen should play at some point out west, but a healthy, rested Campbell might carry the load for the North Division leaders after a month out.
“Just excited to be back and excited to go on the road with the boys,” Campbell said. “They’ve got a real strong team. They’re feeling it right now (the Oilers have won five straight). A great challenge for us. We want to keep it going.”