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Maple Leafs Need to Address Obvious Reason They’re Losing

By Shaun Filippelli

Mar 9, 2021; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; A shot by Winnipeg Jets forward Kyle Connor (not pictured) scores on Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Frederik Andersen (31) as Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Justin Holl (3) looks on during the second period at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 9, 2021; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; A shot by Winnipeg Jets forward Kyle Connor (not pictured) scores on Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Frederik Andersen (31) as Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Justin Holl (3) looks on during the second period at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports /
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Toronto Maple Leafs, Jack Campbell
Jan 16, 2021; Ottawa, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs goalie Jack Campbell (36)  Mandatory Credit: Marc DesRosiers-USA TODAY Sports /

Michael Hutchinson

Through five games played, Hutchinson currently owns a modest record of 3-2-0. Where his numbers shine a lot brighter than they did during his last stint in Toronto are within his .934 save percentage and 2.03 goals against average.

Hutchinson has also shut down the most potent producer in the game, earning his first shutout of the season against Connor McDavid’s Edmonton Oilers. (Stats courtesy of: Hockey-Reference.)

Jack Campbell

Campbell was a breath of fresh air when he joined the team last year, as he gave this fanbase faith that their backup situation would be less of one moving forward. And they were right to feel that way.

He is currently 3-0-0, with a save percentage of .951 and a goals against average of 1.33. Campbell, too, has already added a shutout through his small sample size in 2020-21. There’s no reason to believe Toronto shouldn’t expect more of the same, with an increased workload.

Out with injury since late January, Campbell is back on the ice with his teammates. So, it seems his return is imminent. (Stats courtesy of: Hockey-Reference.)

Frederik Andersen

It’s easy to look to goalies as the problem following a loss. But the issue here is that Andersen has made himself the go-to scapegoat, of late. We know he’s capable, as has been evidenced by some stellar showings throughout his tenure in Toronto. Yet, he keeps making the team question if he’s the right fit.

In net for Toronto’s past two losses, Andersen is now 12-5-2. While that looks like a respectable record, things get a little less clear when you consider who he’s fallen to.

The Ottawa Senators, Montreal Canadiens, Edmonton Oilers, Vancouver Canucks, and Winnipeg Jets have all been on the better side of games with Andersen in Toronto’s net.

He has now had 27 pucks end up behind him throughout his seven losses — a goals against average of 3.86. This number in and of itself helps illustrate that these weren’t stories centred around a team that couldn’t score. Rather, the narrative is that their goaltender didn’t perform.

Even when you include his wins, Andersen’s goals against is still a subpar 2.76 and his save percentage is a mediocre .903. These are not the numbers of Stanley Cup-winning teams, while they’re also clearly the sole reason Toronto’s goalie stats are suffering. (Stats courtesy of: Hockey-Reference.)

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