{"id":17550,"date":"2017-10-12T15:32:22","date_gmt":"2017-10-12T19:32:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/?p=17550"},"modified":"2017-10-12T15:32:22","modified_gmt":"2017-10-12T19:32:22","slug":"leafs-will-go-far-andersen-can-take","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/2017\/10\/12\/leafs-will-go-far-andersen-can-take\/","title":{"rendered":"The Toronto Maple Leafs Will Go as Far as Frederik Andersen Takes Them"},"content":{"rendered":"

With the Toronto Maple Leafs<\/a> jumping out to 3-1 to start the year, and the offence clicking on all cylinders, Torontonians are ready to plan the parade route down Yonge Street.\u00a0The cynic inside all of us, says let’s all take a deep breath. After all, we are only three games in. That same cynic, however, must also confess that the Leafs look good. If the Leafs are going to make a run this season, it won’t come down to\u00a0Auston Matthews<\/a><\/strong>, William Nylander<\/a><\/strong> or Mitch Marner<\/a><\/strong>,\u00a0but the brick wall behind the whole operation:\u00a0Frederik Andersen<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

The Toronto Maple Leafs Will Go as Far as Frederik Andersen<\/a>\u00a0Takes Them<\/h1>\n

We are all familiar with the old cliche. Offence sells tickets, while defence wins championships. The Leafs offence could very well be the best in the National Hockey League, with 22 goals through four games. Not that selling tickets have ever been a problem in Toronto, except for that short time in 2015.<\/p>\n

We know that the Maple Leafs defence isn’t the best.\u00a0Even\u00a0with the additions of veteran\u00a0Ron Hainsey<\/a><\/strong>,<\/a>\u00a0<\/a><\/strong>as well as rookies\u00a0Calle Rosen<\/a> <\/strong>and\u00a0Andreas Borgman<\/a><\/strong>,<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>there is room for improvement.\u00a0 This despite some already strong pieces in\u00a0Jake Gardiner<\/a>, Morgan Rielly<\/a>,\u00a0<\/strong>and\u00a0Nikita Zaitsev<\/a><\/strong>, <\/a>not to mention the developing Connor Carrick<\/a><\/strong>.\u00a0 Truth be told,\u00a0perhaps Toronto could be the verge of a solid, home-grown, defensive core. But it is not a championship contending defence, at least not yet.<\/p>\n

Enter Frederik Andersen<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The Start of the 2016-17 Season<\/h3>\n

Andersen started his Leafs career by missing the World Cup of Hockey after injuring himself during an Olympic Qualifying match with his home country of Denmark.\u00a0He was shaky in the beginning for Toronto, surrendering 22 goals in his first five contests, never looking very comfortable in any of the contests.<\/p>\n

Criticism came quickly. After all, Leafs fans have long memories about goaltending woes. Perhaps it was a reminder of\u00a0Vesa Toskala<\/a><\/strong>,\u00a0Andrew Raycroft<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>or\u00a0Jonas Gustavsson<\/a><\/strong>. Or the lack of a franchise guy since\u00a0Ed Belfour<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>or\u00a0Curtis Joseph<\/a><\/strong>. Maybe it came from the pain that\u00a0Tuukka Rask<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>was once in their possession and was dealt for the aforementioned Raycroft, arguably the biggest fleecing in franchise history.<\/p>\n

Yet one year and 33 wins later, here Andersen stands, fresh off Toronto’s first playoff berth in a full season since 2003-04. He was one of only two goaltenders to face more than 2000 shots a year ago, making him one of, if not the, most important player to the organization’s success.<\/p>\n

Game One @ Winnipeg<\/h3>\n

In the first period against the Winnipeg Jets<\/a> in the Leafs season opener, Andersen was perfect. His incredible play kept Toronto in the first, despite his team getting pushed on their heels out of the gate.\u00a0Andersen shutout Winnipeg in the first period despite the Leafs short-handed three times. To the tune of 18 first period saves, Andersen gave Toronto the opportunity to burst the floodgates open with three goals to end the opening frame.<\/p>\n

Game Two vs. New York<\/h3>\n

In the second game of the season, Frederik Andersen out-dueled\u00a0Henrik Lundqvist<\/a><\/strong>,\u00a0<\/strong>who was pulled after the first period after allowing five goals. Despite a shaky second period in which the New York Rangers<\/a> managed to tie the game, Andersen did not allow New York to take all the wind out of Toronto’s sails by scoring a goal to break the tie. He held the line, yet again, just long enough for Toronto to retake the lead and win the game.<\/p>\n

Game Three vs. Chicago<\/h3>\n

In the third game of the season for Toronto, both the Chicago Blackhawks<\/a> and the Leafs entered the game having scored 15 goals apiece. Chicago started out quick, scoring a pair of goals in the first, but Andersen held down the fort in the second allowing his team to cut the deficit in half. In the third, Anderson was nearly perfect again, if it weren’t for a beautiful slap pass from Chicago defender\u00a0Gustav Forsling<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>that found\u00a0Richard Panik<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>to extend the Blackhawks lead. From there, he shut the door, allowing his team to tie it in regulation and get the win in overtime<\/p>\n

Game Four vs. New Jersey<\/h3>\n

This was by far Andersen’s worst showing of the season.\u00a0 In contrast to what he was able to do against the Jets, he seemed to do the opposite against the New Jersey Devils<\/a>.\u00a0 Toronto dominated the play out shooting the Devils 50-31.\u00a0Cory Schneider <\/a><\/strong>quelled the Leafs attack on one end, and the score was tied at two entering the second period. And that’s when the game unraveled.\u00a0 A tick-tack-toe<\/a> passing play found Pavel Zacha<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>in the slot on the power play to give the devils the lead.\u00a0 Then with five minutes left in the period, Brian Gibbons<\/strong><\/a> buried a short handed goal while Toronto was on a 5-3 power play.\u00a0 Andersen would go on to allow six goals in the contest, including four goals on 21 shots through the second and third periods.<\/p>\n

Not all of these contests were pretty.<\/h3>\n

And it is fairly clear after their contest with the Devils that Toronto has a long way to go.\u00a0 But there is no column in the stats sheet for pretty wins. Or ugly losses for that matter.\u00a0 The bottom line is Toronto found a way to battle and win three out of four games. They did so because their goaltender allowed them to, even though at times, they weren’t playing well in front of him.<\/p>\n

The truth is, Andersen won’t have to be perfect every night. The prolific offence in front of him will allow the Maple Leafs to win games even when they surrender four or five goals.\u00a0 He just has to be good enough to keep his team in the game. To make that one big save.\u00a0 To not give up “the next one”. To keep the young guns within striking distance of their opponents. Nobody else on the team can do that; not Matthews; not Marner; and not Nylander.<\/p>\n

Frederik Andersen can<\/h3>\n

But he will need to be better than his .871 save percentage<\/a>, which he is sporting so far this season.\u00a0 That’s good enough for 40th in the league.\u00a0And that is simply not good enough.<\/p>\n

Of the nine goaltenders that played more than 10 post season contests last season, only one of them sported a save percentage below .918 thorough the playoffs.\u00a0 It was Braden Holtby<\/a><\/strong>.\u00a0 And nobody is lining up to accuse Holtby of being the reason that the Washington Capitals<\/a> keep coming up short come post season time. But people will line up to accuse Andersen, if he cannot hold up his end of the deal.\u00a0 And he will clearly need to be better to withstand the expectations of post season glory for the Leafs this season.<\/p>\n

In overtime and the shootout<\/h3>\n

Toronto’s 1-8 record in the shootout last year will also be a topic of discussion this year.\u00a0 Especially if the Leafs don’t improve in the one-on-one skills competition.\u00a0 This is an area that the goaltender has a chance to steal a point from his team.\u00a0 The expectation with the guns Toronto has up front, that they should be able to go at least .500 this season.\u00a0 Anything less would be considered a failure.\u00a0 That one also falls on the shoulders of Andersen.\u00a0 After all, if Toronto had won four more points last season entering the playoffs, they would have avoided The Capitals in the first round.\u00a0 It would have meant a second place finish in the Atlantic.\u00a0 And their playoff run may have looked very different.<\/p>\n

Toronto should also be able to improve on their 6-7 record in overtime a year ago.\u00a0 As the open ice will give lots of space for Toronto’s skilled players to make plays.\u00a0 But in a situation that often becomes about surrendering chances to create ones of your own. The game again will come down to Andersen buy time for his club.\u00a0 If he can buy enough of it, the offense will have time to strike and get the win.<\/p>\n

If he can do that on a regular basis, Toronto is going to win a lot of games this year. And next year. And the year after. Nobody will want to see the Leafs come April. Perhaps then, maybe, just maybe, Torontonians can start to plan the parade.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Main Photo:<\/p>\n

WASHINGTON, DC – April 15: Toronto Maple Leafs goalie Frederik Andersen (31) takes a drink during a break in the second overtime against the Washington Capitals on April 15, 2017, at the Verizon Center in Washington, D.C. in Round 1 of the NHL Playoffs. The Toronto Maple Leafs defeated the Washington Capitals, 4-3 in the second overtime. (Photo by Mark Goldman\/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

With the Toronto Maple Leafs jumping out to 3-1 to start the year, and the offence clicking on all cylinders, Torontonians are ready to plan the parade route down Yonge Street.\u00a0The cynic inside all of us, says let’s all take a deep breath. After all, we are only three games in. That same cynic, however, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1899,"featured_media":13977,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"1","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[228,188,231,72],"class_list":["post-17550","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-leafs","tag-auston-matthews","tag-frederik-andersen","tag-mike-babcock","tag-toronto-maple-leafs"],"modified_by":"Ben Kerr","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17550","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1899"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=17550"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17550\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/13977"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=17550"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=17550"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=17550"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}