Andersen, Marner awesome against Bruins,Matthews wants to play vs. San Jose (maple leafs)

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Andersen, Marner awesome against Bruins,Matthews wants to play vs. San Jose

By Mike Augello

Nov 28, 2018 • 2:41 pm

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The Toronto Maple Leafs 4-2 victory over the Boston Bruins at Scotiabank Arena on Monday was a result of two things the club has come to depend upon during Auston Matthews’ stint on the injured list; the stellar goaltending of Frederik Andersen and the playmaking of Mitch Marner.

Andersen faced 40 shots in Toronto’s fifth straight home victory from a Bruins club without top center Patrice Bergeron and their top defensive pairing of Charlie McAvoy and Zdeno Chara, stopping all but a pair from David Pastrnak, who is tied for the NHL goal lead with 19.

Marner factored in all four Toronto goals, registering primary assists on Travis Dermott and Igor Ozhiganov’s first tallies of the season, deking a Boston penalty killer and dishing to Patrick Marleau on Josh Leivo’s game-winning power play goal in the second period and getting a helper on Zach Hyman’s empty netter with Bruins goalie Jaroslav Halak pulled for the extra attacker.

“With the puck, without the puck, (Mitch is) definitely a slippery guy. If you get open, he’s going to find you and get the puck to you right on the tape.… Dermott said after the game. “He’s a guy you want to be out there with and if you get open and get in a good spot, he’s going to find you.…

Toronto are 6th in the NHL with 64 goals allowed, but that is mostly due to Andersen’s great play. The Great Dane continues to be burdened by a heavy volume of shots on goal and a defense that still appears to need upgrading for the club to be a legitimate Stanley Cup contender.

In his 20 starts (second to Marc-Andre Fleury), Andersen has faced 647 shots (32.35 shots per game, 3rd in the NHL behind Craig Anderson and John Gibson) and over 39 shots in four of his last five starts. If this trend continues and head coach Mike Babcock continues to use his starter in every non back-to-back game, the Leafs will be in the same position they have been the last two seasons; entering the playoffs with a goalie running out of gas when they need him to be at the top of his game.

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Injured center Auston Matthews took to the ice at the Mastercard Centre in Etobicoke, ON on Tuesday, participated in a full practice with contact for the first time in over a month and proclaimed himself ready to return to the lineup on Wednesday against the San Jose Sharks.

“(The shoulder) felt good. The guys for the most part took it easy on me, but in those battle drills and competing, everything felt good.… Matthews said on Tuesday. “In my mind, I feel ready to play tomorrow, but I have to talk to the medical guys.…

Head coach Mike Babcock would love to get his star center back, who was leading the NHL in goals at the time of his shoulder injury on October 27, but would not tip his hand on whether that will happen at home on Wednesday or in Minnesota on Saturday.

“We’ll know more tomorrow morning, we’ll see how he does (with the medical staff). It was not a long practice or anything, but he looked all right out there.… Babcock said. “Until they tell me he’s playing, this is us just talking. When he’s available, I’m sure we’ll find him some linemates.…

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