It was about halfway through the season when things started to come together for Toronto Marlies goalie Kasimir Kaskisuo.

The first half wasn’t so good. His play was uneven, the Marlies seemed in a bit of disarray roster-wise, losses piled up. And he got injured.

But the 25-year-old from Vantaa, Finland persevered.

“It was just figuring some stuff out,” Kaskisuo said after Monday’s practice. “It was having those little things click, I would say. Just working out all the things with (goalie coach Jon Elkin) putting it together at the right time.

“I’m trusting myself, being composed, really working on those little details of my game. Once I felt confident in those, it gave me patience in my game. And after that, it was about reading the game and reacting accordingly.

“Since those things came together, you get confidence, and if you have confidence you just play.”

Kaskisuo will be between the pipes Tuesday for Game 3 of the AHL Eastern Conference final against the Charlotte Checkers, the top farm team of the Carolina Hurricanes. The series is tied at a game apiece, with Games 4 (Thursday) and 5 (Friday) also set for Coca-Cola Coliseum.

There was a time earlier this season that the Leafs’ goaltending depth looked bleak. Curtis McElhinney and Calvin Pickard had been lost to waivers. Garret Sparks underwhelmed in his rookie season, backing up Frederik Andersen. And Kaskisuo got off to his rocky start.

Things have turned. A trade to acquire veteran Michael Hutchison seemed to steady the ship. And two more youngsters — Ian Scott, currently in the Memorial Cup with the Prince Albert Raiders, and Joe Woll, who left Boston College early to sign with the Leafs — will arrive next season in training camp looking for jobs.

But Kaskisuo, finishing his third full season in the Leafs organization after signing as a college free agent from the University of Minnesota-Duluth in 2016, has played his way back into the conversation.

Kaskisuo — 8-1, .940 save percentage, 1.77 goals-against average — has played every game of the post-season for the Marlies, including their only loss: 5-3 in Game 2 on Sunday, when the puck seemed to ricochet or deflect into the net from awkward angles to help Charlotte on home ice. The Checkers’ winning goal was going well wide until it hit the inside of Andreas Borgman’s leg and changed direction.

“They had two lucky bounces, and it’s going to happen sometimes. That’s hockey,” said Borgman. “We talked about (the goal). There was nothing we could do. It bounced off a stick, and then off me. They ended up being lucky.

“But (Kaskisuo) has been so good lately. A goal like that, I don’t think he’ll put a lot of thought into it. He’ll just go out there and play his game again.”

It wasn’t just that Kaskisuo worked on his game. There were two other things that contributed: call-ups by the Leafs, both Kaskisuo and Hutchinson.

With Andersen and Sparks both hurt, Kaskisuo was called upon as a backup a few times in late December and early January.

“It was awesome,” Kaskisuo said, “even though it was six games on the bench. Just to see what the NHL really is like, behind the scenes. It was a big boost, getting to see how those guys prepare, and go to game. It was a really good experience. Hopefully I can get back there.”

It was when Hutchison was called up to replace Sparks for the NHL playoffs that Kaskisuo came to the forefront with the Marlies. He grabbed the chance and hasn’t relinquished it.

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“Hutchy’s departure opened up a great opportunity for him,” said Marlies coach Sheldon Keefe. “He was ready for that opportunity, because he had been playing very well prior to that, and just kind of took off from there. He has the confidence of our group and he’s earned it.”

Now, very few teams are still playing hockey. So there are a lot of eyes — scouting-wise — on the ones that remain. Kaskisuo is happy to be among them.

“There’s been eyes on me and pressure on me, even trying to get a college scholarship,” said Kaskisuo, who played two seasons at the University of Minnesota-Duluth. “It’s nothing new. It’s part of the job. I’m just enjoying play this far and enjoying the success of the team and trying to ride it out.”

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