Toronto's Goaltending Dilemma (Who starts in the playoffs?)

[ITM]

He's played in 4 game 7's. 5 deciding games.

In deciding games

Leafs have scored 2 goals, 1 goal, 2 goals, 4 goals, 1 goal.

In those games, were Matthews, Marner, Rielly, Nylander, Hyman, Dermott have also lost...

We may need Andersen to be better, but let's not pretend this is just a Andersen issue. We scored enough goals to win a game, in ONE of FIVE games. Nobody played well enough. Nobody should really be trusted to be game seven players, until they prove they are. If Campbell can get back to his streak form, I'm more than happy to go with him. If Andersen comes back, is injury free, and at peak Andersen levels, I'm happy to go with him. I don't really care, as long as that is the best goalie, right then. Heck, it could be Rittich, or Hutch for all I care....

But the whole team needs to be better than they have been. That's my point.

All true.

 

[Wafflewhipper]

He's played in 4 game 7's. 5 deciding games.

In deciding games

Leafs have scored 2 goals, 1 goal, 2 goals, 4 goals, 1 goal.

In those games, were Matthews, Marner, Rielly, Nylander, Hyman, Dermott have also lost...

We may need Andersen to be better, but let's not pretend this is just a Andersen issue. We scored enough goals to win a game, in ONE of FIVE games. Nobody played well enough. Nobody should really be trusted to be game seven players, until they prove they are. If Campbell can get back to his streak form, I'm more than happy to go with him. If Andersen comes back, is injury free, and at peak Andersen levels, I'm happy to go with him. I don't really care, as long as that is the best goalie, right then. Heck, it could be Rittich, or Hutch for all I care....

But the whole team needs to be better than they have been. That's my point.

He lost both game 7s in Anaheim also. Both with us and the final game 5 in the qualifying round yes. 100% failure in all of them with 2 different teams nonetheless.

 

[Fogelhund]

He lost both game 7s in Anaheim also. Both with us and the final game 5 in the qualifying round yes. 100% failure in all of them with 2 different teams nonetheless.

I mean, if you want to go with the Ducks too, he was the goalie that won them two series.... So, not 100% failures.

 

[Wafflewhipper]

I mean, if you want to go with the Ducks too, he was the goalie that won them two series.... So, not 100% failures.

He’s never won a final game with either team. Kind of stinks.

 

[BoredBrandonPridham]

Only 2 goalies who played more than 4 games posted a higher playoff Sv% than Andersen last season (.936).
But we should totally decide he is trash because we know he sucks in the playoffs... Or something.

He's played in 4 game 7's. 5 deciding games.

In deciding games

Leafs have scored 2 goals, 1 goal, 2 goals, 4 goals, 1 goal.

In those games, were Matthews, Marner, Rielly, Nylander, Hyman, Dermott have also lost...

We may need Andersen to be better, but let's not pretend this is just a Andersen issue. We scored enough goals to win a game, in ONE of FIVE games. Nobody played well enough. Nobody should really be trusted to be game seven players, until they prove they are. If Campbell can get back to his streak form, I'm more than happy to go with him. If Andersen comes back, is injury free, and at peak Andersen levels, I'm happy to go with him. I don't really care, as long as that is the best goalie, right then. Heck, it could be Rittich, or Hutch for all I care....

But the whole team needs to be better than they have been. That's my point.

I mean, if you want to go with the Ducks too, he was the goalie that won them two series.... So, not 100% failures.

Might want to jump to 20:30 to listen to a coach that has used Freddy in the playoffs:

Bruce Boudreau breaks down Leafs' power play & goalies, talks NHL reffing & more - MLHS Pod Ep.12 | MLHS Podcast | Podcast Player | Maple Leafs Aggregator

 

[NinjaKick]

so it's basically 50/50... such a shitty and crucial dilemma to have... we MUST figure this out before the playoffs

 

[Wafflewhipper]

Funny enough thing about it is that if Campbell wins tonight with a solid game the dilemma will be gone ha

 

[hobarth]

Rittich or Hutch?

Toronto Maple Leafs: Is David Rittich Better Than Michael Hutchinson?

A 3rd for another version of Hutch?

 

[NinjaKick]

Funny enough thing about it is that if Campbell wins tonight with a solid game the dilemma will be gone ha

the best case scenario for me is that Campbell plays well and Freddy gets back to 100% health...
the poll is 50/50 so I don't think there's any point to over plaqying JC or Freddy... try to keep both as fresh as possible and share the workload

 

[Menzinger]

Only 2 goalies who played more than 4 games posted a higher playoff Sv% than Andersen last season (.936).
But we should totally decide he is trash because we know he sucks in the playoffs... Or something.

To be fair, in the past his macro stats were always solid, his bigger post season issues seemed to be mental during key situations.

I think your earlier point about other players on the team not having great game is fair, but conversely goaltending is a one man show.

I don't trust him in the playoffs at all, but best case scenario is he comes back pissed off and ready to make his critics look foolish for doubting him

 

[Gary Nylund]

He's played in 4 game 7's. 5 deciding games.

In deciding games

Leafs have scored 2 goals, 1 goal, 2 goals, 4 goals, 1 goal.

In those games, were Matthews, Marner, Rielly, Nylander, Hyman, Dermott have also lost...

We may need Andersen to be better, but let's not pretend this is just a Andersen issue. We scored enough goals to win a game, in ONE of FIVE games. Nobody played well enough. Nobody should really be trusted to be game seven players, until they prove they are. If Campbell can get back to his streak form, I'm more than happy to go with him. If Andersen comes back, is injury free, and at peak Andersen levels, I'm happy to go with him. I don't really care, as long as that is the best goalie, right then. Heck, it could be Rittich, or Hutch for all I care....

But the whole team needs to be better than they have been. That's my point.

This guy gets it.

 

[bbgobie]

It's not necessarily that our forwards were invisible those games. And it's not that Anderson played poorly in those games. In fact he has played well in some of them.

The concern is he got outplayed by the other goalie in all of them. It's like having batman in net. He's alright but I want superman in game 7

 

[Stephen]

To be fair, in the past his macro stats were always solid, his bigger post season issues seemed to be mental during key situations.

I think your earlier point about other players on the team not having great game is fair, but conversely goaltending is a one man show.

I don't trust him in the playoffs at all, but best case scenario is he comes back pissed off and ready to make his critics look foolish for doubting him

I don't if Andersen is a battler who will play pissed to prove people wrong though. He seems like a guy whose success comes from being even keeled, business as usual, and when things begin to go sideways can struggle to keep things from really going sideways.

With 4x goalies in tow and so many question marks surrounding all of them, the Leafs best bet is just to play the hot hand. Could be Campbell. Or a darkhorse healthy Andersen. Even Big Save Dave. Or even Hutchinson if the house is burning down. Complete mystery box.

 

[KuleminFan41]

It's not necessarily that our forwards were invisible those games. And it's not that Anderson played poorly in those games. In fact he has played well in some of them.

The concern is he got outplayed by the other goalie in all of them. It's like having batman in net. He's alright but I want superman in game 7

It's not really Andersen's fault if the opposing goalies plays above even absurd levels like they did in the Columbus series. Andersen posted a .936 SV% and a 1.84 GAA in the playoffs last year , which is unfair to really criticize, especially when the Stanley Cup winning goalie Vasilveskiy posted .927 SV% and a 1.90 GAA. Obviously its not the same as Freddie played 5 games and not 25, but the fact that Freddie posted better numbers than a cup winning goaltender , should tell you that it might be a tad unfair to say he's always out played .

Quick stats here
16-17 = .915 SV% 18 goals against vs Holtby's .930 SV% 16 goals against
17-18 = .896 SV% 23 goals against vs Rask's .899 SV% 19 goals against
18-19 = .922 SV% 19 goals against vs Rask's .928 SV% 16 goals against

It's not as if he's being completely outshined by opposing teams goalies apart from last season where Korpisalo had .956 SV% and Merzlikins had .946% against the Leafs

 

[Wafflewhipper]

Rittich or Hutch?

Toronto Maple Leafs: Is David Rittich Better Than Michael Hutchinson?

A 3rd for another version of Hutch?

I would say Hutch without hesitation and history bias going against him for the way he played last year. Hutch has been really solid this season for us. I would love for Rittich to relax and win his next one. Feel bad for him because he is better than that i know

 

[56 Years No Cup]

Healthy Andersen.

Sorry, but you live or die with your starter.

Then die it is...

 

[56 Years No Cup]

Leafs need to give their prospects a chance and see who can emerge. Just look at Nedejkovic in Carolina. We have Woll, Scott, Vehvilainen to try. Give time to Campbell and Anderson to heal what injuries they might have. We already know what Hutch and Rittich are. We need to find out what our prospects can do. If they are good, then we get lucky, if not, then that gives rest to Campbell. The Leafs refusal to rotate players in a condensed season has been very confusing.

Cap.

 

[Jimmy Firecracker]

Well regardless of whichever goalie leads us to wins in the playoffs, it will be quite the story no matter what. Either it’s Jack Campbell, the forever backup who finally realized his potential after early career struggles, or Frederick Andersen, rising from the ashes of past playoff heartbreaks to earn some redemption.

 

[jaric1862]

Unless Campbell gets hot again right before the playoffs, it should be Andersen

 

[SHANNYPLAN]

Campbell. Freddy isn't a big game goalie.

 

[SeaOfBlue]

It's not really Andersen's fault if the opposing goalies plays above even absurd levels like they did in the Columbus series. Andersen posted a .936 SV% and a 1.84 GAA in the playoffs last year , which is unfair to really criticize, especially when the Stanley Cup winning goalie Vasilveskiy posted .927 SV% and a 1.90 GAA. Obviously its not the same as Freddie played 5 games and not 25, but the fact that Freddie posted better numbers than a cup winning goaltender , should tell you that it might be a tad unfair to say he's always out played .

Quick stats here
16-17 = .915 SV% 18 goals against vs Holtby's .930 SV% 16 goals against
17-18 = .896 SV% 23 goals against vs Rask's .899 SV% 19 goals against
18-19 = .922 SV% 19 goals against vs Rask's .928 SV% 16 goals against

It's not as if he's being completely outshined by opposing teams goalies apart from last season where Korpisalo had .956 SV% and Merzlikins had .946% against the Leafs

Game 6 and Game 7 in 2019 were pretty much mirrors of each other. Boston dominated Game 6, Leafs dominated Game 7. Rask made the saves he needed to in Game 6 and then stood on his head in Game 7. Andersen played well in Game 6 (although still gave up weak goals) but couldn't get it done in Game 7 even though we were the much better team.

Same thing happened in Game 5 against Columbus. Korpisalo stands on his head. Andersen gives up at least one goal, if not two, that he should not have given up.

People talk about the Leafs being incapable of playing in close, low scoring games in the playoffs, but it is hard to do when Andersen spots the other team a goal or two in a tight game. Maybe we don't win all of those low scoring games, but we are at least given a chance if Andersen makes some saves that he absolutely needs to make... And those goals are often the difference. I don't think there would be many fans complaining about Andersen if we were 2-0 in first round series in the Dubas era but 0-2 in the Lou era, and if we were allowed to be in those low scoring games without being down due to weak goals given up, we may realistically be 2-0 in the first round under Dubas.

 

[kurt]

Any chance Andersen gets a start as soon as tomorrow? Or are we likely to see Campbell again?

 

[Confucius]

If Andy is healthy, he is my starter.

he will not have played a game in two months before the start of the playoffs. Soup would have to be sporting an .850 save percentage for me to replace him with some one who has missed half the season and sporting an .897

 

[WolfgangPuck]

Hutch .944 at the bubble last year after four games in the PO Almost beat Stars
Maybe he should be considered as backup

 

[ToneDog]

he will not have played a game in two months before the start of the playoffs. Soup would have to be sporting an .850 save percentage for me to replace him with some one who has missed half the season and sporting an .897

Agreed. I believe Andy plays at least one game prior to the playoffs. They have to figure out how to make the cap work.