MAPLE LEAFS’ BACKUP GOALIE GETS FRESH START
Babcock’s departure allows Hutchinson to escape doghouse and regain confidence
The fresh outlook around the Toronto Maple Leafs since Sheldon Keefe took over as coach from the fired Mike Babcock has been extended to the backup goaltender.
In a move that Babcock never seemed to consider, the Leafs’ No. 2 goalie Michael Hutchinson will start in the first game of a back-to-back set when the Leafs meet the Buffalo Sabres on Friday afternoon at Keybank Center.
Frederik Andersen will start Saturday night, when the Leafs and Sabres hook up again at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto.
It was a rule written somewhere in Babcock’s guide to coaching that Andersen would start the first game of back-tobacks with the Leafs backup starting in the second game, no matter the situation or the opponent.
Life under Keefe is rather different, and not just because the Leafs have won all three of their games after losing their final six with Babcock behind the bench.
The decision to use Hutchinson in the first game is another indication of the variances that have arisen since Nov. 20, when Keefe took the reins.
“We considered that there are more things at play in this situation, given that it’s an earlier game,” Keefe said after the Leafs practised on Thursday at Keybank Center.
“Hutch has played more in the American (Hockey) League (with afternoon starts), so he’s accustomed to that.
“Also, we’re going to get back to Toronto (on Friday night) at a good time. It’s going to allow for the chance for a normal game day for (Andersen) on Saturday to get the morning skate and get ready to play. With all those things, it just made sense for us.”
The Leafs don’t have a win from their backup goalie this season as Hutchinson and Kasimir Kaskisuo have combined to go 0-5-1. The only other NHL team without a win from a backup goalie is the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Hutchinson, recalled this week from the AHL’S Toronto Marlies, has a record of 0-4-1 with an .879 save percentage and a 4.44 goalsagainst average with the Leafs.
Not only have the Leafs become a better team in terms of possession, they’re supporting each other a lot more and bringing the kind of shift-in, shift-out resolve that had disappeared with Babcock in charge.
While a team might be counted on to win a game or two on adrenalin and emotion immediately after a coaching change, the Leafs have latched on to what Keefe has been asking them to do fundamentally.
“The change has the snapback effect where it gets you out of the funk that you’re in right away,” centre Jason Spezza said. “We look more connected (as fiveman units) and when a team is connected, it allows everybody to make quicker plays, guys are working hard off the puck to get open, and we’re using the width of the ice more, and that’s allowing us to play with the puck.”
Said defenceman Jake Muzzin: “We still have to go out there and perform and work and do the job. It just doesn’t change because of a coaching change. I’ve tried to emphasize that with the guys, that we still have to go out and perform and work. We brought a little bit more emotion and determination in our game in the last three games and it’s helped.”
Toronto wasn’t good in front of Hutchinson, but the improvements under Keefe should go a long way for the backup goalie.
And keep in mind that during Hutchinson’s play in his brief stint with the Marlies, the 29-year-old went 3-0-0 with a .942 save percentage and a 1.95 goals-against average.
“It was a challenge for him coming down (to the Marlies), a tough realization, especially for someone in his stage of his career (who had) been through that already,” Keefe said. “(But) we weren’t surprised that he settled in.
“The fact that he’s been busy and in the net is something that we think is important, and we’re looking forward to giving him a chance to play (on Friday).”