Toronto Maple Leafs: Jack Campbell Finding Form Just In Time

For the Toronto Maple Leafs, it must be somewhat of a relief to have Jack Campbell back between the pipes and regaining some level of form.

Of course, the Toronto Maple Leafs would like to be heading into the Stanley Cup Playoffs with the early-season iteration of Jack Campbell, but this one will do just fine too.

The 2010 Dallas Stars first round pick (11th overall) collected his first 30 win season with the team’s victory over the Philadelphia Flyers.

What’s more he hit that milestone with just 9 losses to his name this season. Not a bad pair of statistics really.

Toronto Maple Leafs and Jack Campbell This Season

The gaudy heights of the early season seem a long way away right now. Looking to his save percentages through the first three months of the year, Campbell posted 0.918% in October, 0.959% in November and 0.909% through December.

His numbers earned a call-up to the All-Star Game and then promptly fell off a cliff. Ignoring his numbers in March (as he only played 2 games); January was his worst month with a save percentage of 0.884%.

Yet despite this, the Toronto Maple Leafs still came away with 5 wins from his 8 starts; Jack Campbell certainly benefitted from teammates that prevented his confidence taking the hit of missing saves and then giving up a loss. (all stats naturalstattrick.com).

Given this season is his first real shot at being a number-one goalie and that the Toronto Maple Leafs, as a result, have upped his workload; you have to imagine he’s pleased to be nearing the end of the regular season, but also pleased to have bounced back.

Thankfully, he’s starting to show a bit of form. While people may not like the shot count that the Philadelphia Flyers put on his net last game, it’s invaluable for getting up to speed and in peak form.

Nobody really wants to see their opponent able to put 39 shots on goal. However when they do, most people will be happy to concede just 2.

It marks the second consecutive game that Jack Campbell has only allowed 2 goals past him and suggests that whatever injuries ailed him aren’t too much of a concern right now.

Jack Campbell certainly seems to be recovered and looking much more tuned in. Yes, it’s results against the Islanders and Flyers with the big tests yet to come, but it’s all progress. This is a big deal for the Toronto Maple Leafs with experienced NHL goalie Petr Mrazek still out, meaning that as of right now, Erik Kallegren is the backup goalie heading to the playoffs.

So routinely, the Toronto Maple Leafs have found in-form goalies standing in their way; here’s hoping this season, that is reversed.