Starting on Saturday night against the Ottawa Senators, the Toronto Maple Leafs will be officially resting Frederik Andersen. For one game at least. Garret Sparks will start against the last-place Senators. That seems like a very easy call for Mike Babcock. It’s a winnable game with just about anyone in net, despite the Maple Leafs losing 6-2 the last time the two teams met. Just how much rest Andersen gets as the team prepares for the Stanley Cup Playoffs remains to be seen. How much he really needs is another question mark.
Toronto Maple Leafs Resting Frederik Andersen As Season Winds Down
Andersen has looked great overall this season. He’s been mentioned in Vezina Trophy conversations, although he’s unlikely to win it. He looked good last season too. Until the Maple Leafs met the Boston Bruins in the first round of the playoffs. Andersen went from a .918 save percentage in the regular season to a .896 save percentage in the playoffs. He’s been his usual self again this regular season with a .917 save percentage.
While it’s surely not the only factor, many believe fatigue caught up to the 29-year-old Dane. The club went into this season with questions about how the team will keep Andersen rested for the playoffs. Will he be able to sustain his solid regular season play against Boston in the first round?
Games Played
Andersen played 66 games last year. That was just one game shy of Cam Talbot and Connor Hellebuyck who shared the lead for most games played last season. Hellebuyck backstopped his team to a Conference Finals appearance. His season save percentage was .924 and only dipped to .922 in 17 playoff games. In contrast, however, Washington Capitals goalie Braden Holtby played in only 54 games with a .907 regular season save percentage. In 23 playoff games, his save percentage rose to .922, and of course, the Capitals won the Stanley Cup.
This season, Andersen is on pace to see fewer regular-season games. He’s played in 57 games this season and after Ottawa, the team will have only four games remaining. The most he could play is 61, but if the team really wants to rest him, he should play fewer than that.
Back-To-Back
Babcock’s usual game plan is to start his number-one goalie in every game but the second half of a back-to-back. Tonight’s game against Ottawa is not the second half of a back-to-back. Starting Sparks tonight is a step away from the norm for Babcock. It’s a sign that maybe some members of the staff are buying into the idea that Andersen needs some rest.
With the team playing last Wednesday, giving Andersen the night off here will allow him to have four days of rest before playing the New York Islanders. The team will be looking for a do-over after an embarrassing performance in John Tavares‘ first return to Nassau Coliseum. This is a game Andersen has to start. It’s also the first of the team’s last back-to-back of the season. Sparks will start Tuesday night against the Carolina Hurricanes.
What’s Left?
The Maple Leafs’ second last game of the season will come on Thursday night against the Tampa Bay Lightning. This is another game the team will need to be on their toes for. They’ll likely be using this game as a measuring stick game. Not only as a game to play well in as playoffs loom but if the Maple Leafs beat the Bruins in round one, the Lightning will very likely be waiting for them in round two. Andersen will surely get the start here as well.
If the Maple Leafs give Sparks the final game of the season, next Saturday against the Montreal Canadiens, that means Andersen will finish the season with 59 games played. It will also mean he plays only two games in the final ten days of the regular season.
There is speculation the Leafs and Bruins won’t start their series until April 11th due to scheduling conflicts in Boston. That gives Andersen another five days of rest leading up to Game One. If fatigue really is a factor for Andersen, limiting him in these last two weeks of the regular season coupled with a slight delay to start the playoffs could be a huge boost for the Maple Leafs. Of course, adding Tavares and Jake Muzzin helps too, but teams can be made or broken by goaltending in the playoffs. Does anyone remember Jon Casey?
Joseph Woll
The Maple Leafs also signed Joseph Woll to an entry-level deal earlier this week. He’s been skating with the team and may take Andersen’s spot in practice at times to give the Maple Leafs’ starter even more rest.
If you’re not buying into late-season rest for the players, just look at Morgan Rielly‘s play of late. Rielly played 25:09 last Wednesday against the Philadelphia Flyers and looked tired at times. Since Jake Gardiner and Travis Dermott went down with injuries, Rielly’s ice time has increased. His season average is 23:02.
Dermott should return to action tonight against Ottawa, but even if he doesn’t, or plays limited minutes as he eases back into the lineup, it makes perfect sense to keep Rielly’s minutes down in these final few games.
Mostly that’s because these games don’t really matter. Not in the standings anyway. The team needs the live game practice as they adjust from a being a run-and-gun, stretch pass focused team to a team that is more concerned with playing ‘heavy’ minutes in the offensive zone. The wins and losses don’t matter though.
They can’t catch Boston and Montreal isn’t going to catch them. Much like last year, the Maple Leafs know they’re going to finish third in the Atlantic Division well before the season ends. They do need to fine tune, but they don’t need to wear their stars down in mostly meaningless games.
Resting Players
Aside from giving Sparks a few more starts than he might normally see and not playing Rielly as much as he has been playing, the Maple Leafs may also consider giving a few of their top players nights off.
There has been speculation that Patrick Marleau may profit from some rest. His play after the All-Star break was much improved from the games prior to the break, but Marleau hasn’t missed a game in nearly a decade, not since April 9th, 2009. He’s probably not going to be resting now.
Will Babcock sit Auston Matthews, or Mitch Marner a game or two next week? Probably not, but cutting their minutes down and cycling in players on the fourth line, like Trevor Moore and Nic Petan to eat some more minutes may still be in the cards.
As much as these games don’t matter in the wins column, player usage and how they change their overall playing style in preparation for playoff hockey will be a major focus for fans and coaches alike. At least it’s something to keep the interest level up for the next eight days.
