Toronto Maple Leafs: Choose your goalie – Game 7 edition

Frederik Andersen

We start with the team’s current goaltender, Andersen. As an Anaheim Duck, he was Steady Freddie in the playoffs. Over 28 playoff games with Anaheim, he put up a 2.34 GAA, highlighted by a stellar 2015-16 run when he allowed just seven goals in five games, albeit in a losing effort as he got very little support from his offence.

Andersen’s playoff record with the Leafs has been a bit of a different story. At various points he has put the team on his back, evidenced by a 32 save, 3-1 victory in Game 6 of the 2018 playoffs that pushed the team on to Game 7. At other times, he has been the reason for their downfall – his overall goals-against-average during that 2018 series was an ugly 3.76.

In the 2019 playoffs, Andersen allowed two or fewer goals in each of Toronto’s three wins, but three or more goals in all of the team’s four losses. The blame can’t be 100 per cent placed on him, as his .922 save percentage shows he was peppered with shots throughout the series. However, a key save in either Game 6 or 7 (both clinching opportunities for Toronto) could have been the difference in the series.

Andersen has been a workhorse during the regular season with the Blue and White. He has routinely found ways to keep the team in games they have no business being in, and giving them a chance to win is really all you can ask of a goalie. He has also finished among the top 10 in Vezina voting each of the last two seasons, proving the NHL community recognizes his value to the Leafs.

Would I trust Andersen in a Game 7 situation? I’m leaning towards yes. His playoff record in Toronto isn’t as stellar as you would like, but when including regular season numbers, I believe he’s done enough to warrant the trust of Leafs Nation in this hypothetical scenario.