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The Toronto Maple Leafs get to enjoy a five-day CBA mandated break following a 5-3 loss to the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday.
The respite contributed to head coach Mike Babcock opting to play Frederik Andersen on consecutive nights in Newark and at Air Canada Center, but the Leafs goalie did not appear himself against the Habs in his 26-save effort, allowing goals by Max Pacioretty and Artturi Lehkonen in the opening 3:47 of the first period and a weak third-period insurance goal by rookie Michael McCarron.
“Obviously I didn't make the right decision (starting Andersen back-to-back).” Babcock said after the game. “In saying that, the last time we did it we thought it was the right decision. This time it wasn't the right decision. It's amazing how winning and losing goes into those things.”
Saturday’s loss was the third time that the Leafs starter played both ends of back-to-back games; a 4-1 loss in Pittsburgh on November 12 and a 4-1 victory in Arizona prior to the Christmas break were the others.
In the other seven instances, veteran Jhonas Enroth and rookie Antoine Bibeau have gone 1-5-1.
Enroth lost Babcock’s confidence after surrendering a 3-0 in New Jersey and allowing two goals in the opening minute of a 3-0 loss to Calgary in late November, but made a grand total of five starts.
Bibeau won AHL Goaltender of the month for October, but struggled with the Toronto Marlies before being recalled. After a loss to Colorado and overtime win in Tampa, it was thought that Babcock would use him against the offensively challenged Devils.
The 22-year-old rookie has been loaned to the Marlies three times to get some work and his performances have done nothing to inspire any confidence (1-3-0, .902 save percentage).
GM Lou Lamoriello’s attempt to improve the situation with the signing of former Calgary goalie Karri Ramo to a professional tryout has fallen flat. The 30-year-old allowed 11 goals in three AHL starts and has not seen action since December 14.
On Sunday, Marlies coach
Sheldon Keefe revealed that Ramo sustained an injury and there is no timeline for him to resume skating.
Islanders netminder Jaroslav Halak and Boston’s Anton Khudobin were waived last week, but both have a year remaining on their current contracts and make more than Toronto would prefer to pay a backup.
On Monday, the Columbus Blue Jackets placed veteran backup Curtis McElhinney on waivers. The 33-year-old played seven games for the Jackets, with a 2-1-2 record, 2.39 GAA and .924 save percentage, makes $800,000 and is an unrestricted free agent after this season.
With eight back-to-backs in their remaining 43 games and Andersen on pace to play close to 70 games, GM Lou Lamoriello may find it necessary to come up with a more dependable option to allow Babcock to not overwork his starter.
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