Backup Hutchinson goes for first win against Jets
Leafs backup goalie gets best chance yet for first win against Wings on Saturday
Michael Hutchinson is not alone.
There have been some NHL goalies with good past records who’ve had to wait awhile for their first win of the season as Toronto Maple Leafs.
Jonathan Bernier was starved for 11 games in 2015-16, the year Toronto finished last overall, though his mark of 0-8-3 was dissected by a conditioning stint where he won three of four with the AHL’S Toronto Marlies.
NHL stats officially lists the eight games by Rick St. Croix during 1982-83 as the longest a Toronto franchise netminder went winless at the start (0-6-2).
And between the 1995-96 and 1996-97 seasons, Don Beaupre, a 268-game winner with three other clubs, dropped all eight of his Toronto decisions and never did get a “W” here.
With Frederik Andersen hoping for a ninth victory in his past 13 starts on Friday at Madison Square Garden, Saturday’s home tilt versus Detroit will be Hutchinson’s chance to take himself out of the above conversation.
After getting less than favourable conditions in almost all his starts at the end of backto-backs, Hutchinson should benefit from the Leafs playing their best hockey of the autumn. Though the Rangers and the travel will take something out of them Friday night, the Wings are the NHL’S last-place team with 21 points and only four road victories.
“He has had opportunities, they haven’t come of late,” said Sheldon Keefe, who called
Hutchinson just once since replacing Mike Babcock as coach. “We wish we could’ve got Freddy a break in there. We put him in back-to-backs (at Andersen’s insistence two weeks ago) and that’s where Hutch lost a start.
“Since then, the schedule has been (spread out) for us and Hutch has had an excellent set of practices. His demeanour has been good and the feedback from (goalie coach) Steve Briere has been excellent.”
Not only has Hutchinson yet to win, Kasimir Kaskisuo lost his only start in front of a Leafs team that was sluggish in the last days under Babcock. Toronto has not had a backup grab a game for it since last March 20.
But Hutchinson has been getting daily pep talks from Briere, extra practice work with two or three odd-man rushes he’d never see in a real game, and watches the same pre-scout video as Andersen to feel part of the team.
“I’m feeling I’m in a good head space, which is huge,” Hutchinson said Friday. “You just want games at this point (home or road).
“The guys have been awesome. We have a really, really close team. I make a big save in practice, they (celebrate), or if they score a nice goal on me, I’m hearing it, too.”
Defenceman Justin Holl says enough is enough with that zero unchanged beneath Hutchinson’s name.
“We all know what kind of calibre goalie he is. We’ve put him in some tough spots in the back-tobacks. It’s up to us to put him in a good spot.”
PUT AWAY THE ERASER
Heading to New York, there was reluctance on Keefe’s part to mess with a lineup that produced wins over the Oilers and Sabres, making his record 8-4 post-babcock. Winger Trevor
Moore is ready again to step in from a nagging shoulder injury, but he and Marlies call-up Adam Brooks were the extra forwards at Friday’s practice.
“We think we’re seeing more and more (consistency), but as I’ve said we have a long way to go,” Keefe said of how his team is faring. “It speaks to the potential. We’ve done a lot of good things that put us in good spots, I just think we have a lot more to give and a lot more to grow.
“We haven’t made any final lineup decisions for these two games, but (Moore) is available.”
NUMBERS GAME
Nhl.com crunched some numbers to indicate how improved the Leafs are under Keefe — though having a nearfull lineup to work with has helped that cause.
Special teams show the biggest improvement, from 17.5 per cent and 18th in the league in power play success to 31.5 per cent the past 12 games, best showing of any team. The penalty kill mark also rose to 85.1 per cent, now ranked seventh overall.
The Leafs’ ratio of 5-on-5 goals allowed under Babcock was also cut from third-highest down to a tie for 19th with Washington, Arizona and Los Angeles. The Leafs fell in at least one category, 5-on-5 puck possession, though it’s better when Toronto plays with a lead.
IS BROOKS GETTING HIS BREAK?
Adam Brooks and defenceman Martin Marincin joined the team in New York, meaning they’ll stay through the NHL’S holiday roster freeze. Brooks has 73 points in 136 regular season games on the farm, including 14 points in 18 appearances this year.
“I think he’s earned it, not just this season, but going back the last two,” Keefe said of the fourth-round pick from 2016 he coached with the Marlies. “He’s taken big steps. It’s nice to see him around here and getting comfortable, so if we do call on him in future he’s further along.”
Brooks was looking forward to travelling with the team and an unexpected visit to New York City at Christmas. He has seen enough Marlies move up the past few years.
“You’re nothing but happy for them and glad to see a few teammates doing well, but it feels good to come up, even for warmups or practice. It’s an exciting day for me.”
LOOSE LEAFS
Greg Moore, Keefe’s replacement with the Marlies, makes his coaching debut Saturday in Belleville after two weeks with the staff in Toronto and a week running practices with the farm group. “He’s excited to get going and we’ve given him as much information as we can,” Keefe said. “He’s prepared for this, he has a lot of great ideas.” ... Goalie Ian Scott, yet to play with the Marlies this season, had successful hip surgery this week “to correct ongoing issues related to impingement,” according to a release. He’ll miss a minimum of six months, but expects to be ready for camp in 2020 ... Brooks had to give up his Marlies’ No. 14 when he joined the Leafs, as it’s retired for Dave Keon. If he plays, he’ll go to 77, his junior number with the Regina Pats.