Andersen to start in Ottawa
Frederik Andersen’s return to the Toronto Maple Leafs net will come on Wednesday in the final chapter of the Battle of Ontario.
Maple Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe said after practice on Tuesday that the plan is for Andersen, who has not been in the Leafs crease since March 19 as he recovered from a knee injury, to start in Ottawa against the Senators in the Leafs’ penultimate regular-season game of 2020-21.
In two appearances last week with the Toronto Marlies of the American Hockey League — he played half a game and then a full game — Andersen had an .885 save percentage, stopping 46 of 52 shots.
“You’re not going to read too much into any one particular game, just like you’re not going to read too much into his AHL conditioning stint,” Keefe said. “This was all about him getting comfortable and feeling good when he leaves the net at the end of the day from a health perspective.
“From our perspective, giving him those game reps and having him out there close to playoffs is a positive thing. He’s feeling good and I thought he was tremendous these last couple of days on the ice.
“He has worked extremely hard to get himself back to being ready, his approach has been really good. It’s good to have him back and the guys will be excited to play in front of him.”
Keefe’s media availability ended before he could be asked whether Jack Campbell would start on Friday in Winnipeg against the Jets in the Leafs’ last game, though that would be a rather safe assumption.
Campbell has done more than just carry the ball with Andersen out, and on the season, has a record of 17-2-2 with a .923 save percentage.
Prior to being forced out of the lineup with his injury, Andersen was inconsistent. In 23 games, he was 13-8-2 with a .897 save percentage.
In the 23 games that Andersen missed, the Leafs went 16-3-4 and this past Saturday clinched the North Division title.
With some salary cap manoeuvring to be done to activate Andersen from long-term injured reserve, the club on Tuesday assigned goalie Michael Hutchinson, defenceman Timothy Liljegren and forward Stefan Noesen to the Marlies. Defenceman Mac Hollowell, meanwhile, was reassigned to the Leafs’ taxi squad.
It’s possible Zach Hyman, who practised on a line with Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner on Tuesday, could be placed on retroactive LTIR to further accommodate Andersen’s return.
Keefe said neither Hyman nor Riley Nash, who was the centre on the third line between Alex Kerfoot and Ilya Mikheyev at practice, will be available to play in Ottawa.
Forward Nick Foligno, who skated on the left wing with John Tavares and William Nylander, will be a game-time decision after recovering from an upper-body injury. Defenceman Justin Holl practised on Tuesday after sitting out on Monday, but also will be a game-time decision.
Extra forwards were Alex Galchenyuk and Pierre Engvall, another indication of the Leafs’ depth.
Most importantly, the Leafs’ on-ice workout featured nearly a full lineup with the playoffs starting next week.
The only member of the main group missing was defenceman Zach Bogosian, who continues to nurse a shoulder injury.
“I think we’re the most well-rounded team that I’ve seen here, as far as depth and grind and skill and defence and goaltending, so it’s definitely a good feeling,” defenceman Jake Muzzin said. “It’s a solid team. We’re going to need everyone to buy in.
“It’s nice to see (injured) guys back in the swing of things, getting ready to make the next step in the playoffs.”
Andersen is fourth in Leafs history in wins and will be going for his 150th victory with Toronto.
“It’s great,” Muzzin said of Andersen’s return. “We missed him.”