As Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Jack Campbell chases franchise history when he suits up against the Montreal Canadiens on Wednesday, Frederik Andersen hasn’t skated and his health remains a mystery.
Andersen, the team’s regular starting goaltender, has been out with a lower-body injury since Mar. 19 and has not been on the ice either by himself or with the team at practices or morning skates.
“He had another follow-up here but I haven’t got the update on that yet,” Leas coach Sheldon Keefe said.
When asked if there was any concern Andersen’s ailment could keep him out of the remainder of the season, Keefe replied that there was “no concern”.
The lingering injury kept Andersen out of the lineup for two weeks in late February to early March. He posted an .876 save percentage in seven appearances and admitted that he wasn’t feeling 100 percent.
“I’m not really where I want to be obviously,” Andersen said on Mar. 18. “I think I’m working towards just getting as good as possible. I think everyone goes through a season where we all have something going on. It’s just a matter of how well you can manage it and play through it.”
With Andersen sidelined, there’s been suggestions that the Leafs should look to adding a goaltender with the trade deadline five days away.
Campbell has performed well in the starter’s role and he’ll assume those duties against the Montreal Canadiens on Wednesday.
He has a 9-0-0 record with a .944 save percentage and a win against the Canadiens would give him sole possession o the franchise record for consecutive wins by a goaltender.
Michael Hutchinson, the team’s third goaltender, performed well in his start on Apr. 4 against the Calgary Flames. He made 32 saves on 34 shots in a 4-2 victory and made several difficult saves while the team in front of him underperformed for extended stretches of the game.
The Leafs will go with the same lines and defense pairs they used in a 5-3 win against the Flames on Monday.
Toronto is 7-0-1 in their last eight games.