Leafs' goaltending struggles still central Hours after an animated exchange about his team’s goaltending, Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Mike Babcock was still left answering for netminder Frederik Andersen's struggles.

Kristen Shilton TSN Toronto Maple Leafs Reporter Follow|Archive

TORONTO – Hours after an animated exchange about his team’s goaltending made headlines, Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Mike Babcock was still answering for his netminder’s struggles.

The Maple Leafs fell 7-3 to the Tampa Bay Lightning at home on Tuesday, and goalie Frederik Andersen’s performance was at the centre of the loss. Andersen allowed seven goals on 24 shots, the first time in his NHL career he’s given up that many scores. Facing Steven Stamkos, who tallied two goals and two assists, and the red-hot Lightning, Andersen didn’t get all the help he needed defensively, either. Carrying an .851 save percentage and 4.29 goals-against average, Andersen is firmly under the microscope and in search for answers.

“Tonight would be one he’d want to regroup from. He’s a proud guy and it’s very important we support him and he’s got to work too,” Babcock said. “It didn’t bounce his way for sure tonight. He’s not feeling as good about himself as he should be. In order to do that, you’ve got to earn the right to feel good by doing good work.”

Toronto outshot Tampa 43-24 on the night, and had scored first in four of their five games this season. But on Tuesday, Stamkos got Tampa on the board 1:19 into the game off a turnover in the Maple Leafs' zone. The Lightning would lead 3-0 by the end of the first period. But Babcock sent Andersen out to start the second and although he considered pulling him later, the coach opted to let his starter finish the game.

“He’s my guy, I want him to play,” Babcock said. “I can pull him and say, ‘I showed you.’ But what did I show him? It’s me, digging it with the rest of the guys. Make the next save and give us a chance to come back and win the game. You can’t do that on the bench.”

The young Maple Leafs tried to rally and claw back into the game early in the third period. James van Riemsdyk and Auston Matthews scored in quick succession to cut the deficit to 5-3, but a four-minute minor to Mitch Marner late resulted in two goals and put the nail in Toronto’s coffin.

“I didn’t feel good right away,” Andersen said. “Felt like everything bounced the wrong way and I wasn’t able to make any saves when I needed to. You just have to learn from it. It’s what it is. To be better, go back and work harder.”

In front of Andersen, the Maple Leafs struggled in their own zone. The netminder made an incredible save on Bolts’ defender Victor Hedman early in the second - he had the whole right side of the net wide open but Andersen was able to get a quick stick on the shot. On the next play, Hedman came in wholly unopposed, able to pick up his own rebound and zip the puck back between Andersen’s legs.

“It’s a young team and I want to be better personally, that’s for sure,” Andersen said. “Definitely an adjustment, but you’ve got to keep doing what you’re doing. Don’t try to change too much. That’s something I’ve got to be better at, just play my game and then the results should come.”

With the Maple Leafs moving to 1-2-3 on the season, they’d like to see improvement sooner than later. But the shoulder injury that forced Andersen to miss time with the team early in training camp still looms large, and what measures need to be taken to get Andersen where he needs to be still remain to be seen.

“It hasn’t gone as good as he’d like it to go. We’re very confident in his ability to move on,” Babcock said. “We know what he’s capable of doing, he’s done it for three years straight [in the NHL].

“What part is mental and what part is physical? None of us really know. I just know when you’re real strong mentally you tend to bounce back in a hurry and that’s going to be the challenge for him.”

Biron: Andersen looks like a much different player TSN Hockey Analyst Martin Biron uses his former goalie expertise to take a deeper look why Frederik Andersen is struggling in net.



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