Inconsistent Maple Leafs Push Chips Behind Trio of Goalies

Following another injury to Petr Mrazek, the Toronto Maple Leafs may have to rely on a trio of goalies down the stretch.

The Toronto Maple Leafs pulled off an impressive win over their Atlantic Division rivals in Boston Tuesday. One game earlier, Toronto beat one of the very best teams in the league in the Florida Panthers. However, since February 21, the Leafs lost to Montreal twice, Buffalo twice, Columbus once, and Arizona once. They have exhibited a tendency to play down – or up – to the level of their opponent, and that’s something Buds head coach Sheldon Keefe is keenly aware of.

The Leafs’ lackluster performance against non-playoff teams may well turn out to be the difference between them having home ice advantage in the first round, and perhaps being a wild card team that likely will take on the top-ranked Carolina Hurricanes or Florida Panthers in Round One. And the constant changing of the guard in goal may also wind up affecting Toronto’s position in the Atlantic standings.

Tuesday, goalie Petr Mrazek once again was injured, damaging his groin early in the first period against Boston. His wonky groin has been a problem for Mrazek for most of this season, and he’s now likely to miss a substantial period of time. Keefe told reporters this week that Jack Campbell was nearing a return, and that’s good news – otherwise, Toronto would be looking at a tandem of rookie Erik Kallgren and journeyman Michael Hutchinson (or possibly, pre-trade-deadline acquisition Carter Hutton?) for Thursday’s home game against Winnipeg, and Saturday’s road game against Philadelphia.

The Leafs’ schedule is even more punishing next week: they continue their road trip with three games in four nights against the Lightning, Panthers, and Dallas Stars. Toronto needs stability in goal in the worst way, and re going to be tested time and again in these games against some of the NHL’s top teams.

This is where Toronto’s depth comes in Tuesday, goalie Petr Mrazek once again was injured, damaging his groin early in the first period against Boston. His wonky groin has been a problem for Mrazek for most of this season, and he’s now likely to miss a substantial period of time. Keefe told reporters this week that Jack Campbell was nearing a return, and that’s good news – otherwise, Toronto would be looking at a tandem of rookie Erik Kallgren and journeyman Michael Hutchinson (or possibly, pre-trade-deadline acquisition Carter Hutton?) for Thursday’s home game against the Winnipeg Jets, and Saturday’s road game against the Philadelphia Flyers.

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When he does return, Campbell will have very little time to re-acclimate in one of the league’s most pressure-packed markets. Management has pushed all their chips behind Campbell, and, regardless of how Kallgren plays in his absence, Campbell is going to be given a shot to regain his starter’s job. If he stumbles again, that’s when you’re likely to see Kallgren get an extended push in the top role. Mrazek now is the third option in net, and nobody would be surprised to see the final two years of his three-year contract bought out by Dubas.

The acquisition of Norris Trophy-winner Mark Giordano at the trade deadline has given the Leafs one of the deeper defense corps in the league, and Toronto also has impressive depth at forward.

However, questions that remain about their goaltending are going to last right through the playoffs. For better or worse, they’re bound to Campbell-Kallgren-Mrazek. They need a big and consistent performance between the pipes from either a rookie in Kallgren, a goalie in Campbell who has played only seven career NHL playoff games, and a veteran in Mrazek who can’t stay healthy.

And that is what ultimately could be their downfall