The Toronto Maple Leafs visit Minnesota today to take on the Wild at the bizarre hour of 2 PM.
The Toronto Maple Leafs start the unofficial second half of the season in second place in the overall standings and will have their work cut out for them today because they have no goalies.
Starting goalie Frederick Andersen has been placed on the Injured Reserve, and perfectly serviceable back-up Garrett Sparks is out with a possible concussion, per Kristen Shilton.
The Leafs have recalled goalies Michael Hutchinson and Kasimir Kaskisuo.
Hutchinson, recently acquired from the Florida Panthers – just in time, it would seem – is expected to make the start.
Leafs vs Wild
#Leafs recall Kasimir Kaskisuo and Michael Hutchinson. Garret Sparks is being withheld from the game today after going through concussion protocol.
— Kristen Shilton (@kristen_shilton) January 3, 2019
So, Michael Hutchinson is likely Toronto’s starter vs. Minnesota
I feel like the Leafs are a good enough team to get by without Andersen for a while, but it’s never a good thing to have to rely on your third string goalie. Hutchinson is known as a very good AHL goalie, and has had moderate success in the NHL, but obviously he’s never won a job.
There was that one time he filled in Winnipeg with some success, so it’s not like this is a total disaster. He was acquired because Kaskisuo wasn’t exactly shutting it down with the Marlies, so it is improbable that Kaskisuo will see action. Actually, he’s been so bad with the Marlies that if Hutchinson does get injured today, the Leafs might just finish the game with six skaters!!
I don’t feel too concerned about the goalie situation, I think if Andersen’s injury was really serious, he would have been IR’d sooner, and the Leafs are a good team regardless.
I personally am more concerned with the stupid 2 O’clock start time – what is up with that? I have to work until five, and it’s unlikely that I can avoid hearing the score at work. It’s all very dumb.
I am a fan of afternoon games on weekends, but not weekdays. Bad form, NHL.
For the Leafs, it’s been a while since they played, I’ve had to sustain myself by watching the Calgary Flames and it just hasn’t been the same. Johnny Gaudreau is quite the player though – I think he got four breakaways last night and a hat trick on New Years Eve. He’s what Marner could be if he shot more.
Speaking of Marner, he isn’t going to the all-star game, but people really shouldn’t use the word “snubbed.” Not just because it’s a terrible cliché at this point, but because if you look at the format and the roster criteria, it’s hardly a snub.
It’s more like you have to take a player from every team, so you can’t take five Leafs. No big deal.
Goalies or not, the Toronto Maple Leafs should have no trouble today with the Wild.