How fast is Andreas Johnsson?

Garret Sparks did not think that was the right question. The goaltender, who has played with Johnsson the past two seasons with the Toronto Marlies of the American Hockey League and now this season with the Maple Leafs in the National Hockey League, said it’s more about how quick is he.

“He’s just got, I guess you could call it nitrous oxide, he’s got the button,” Sparks told the Sporting News. “He’s got a legitimate speed boost. He might save it for when he just needs it but obviously, he’s a really effective player when he’s hitting that button a lot...You don’t see him until you notice him because of how fast he’s moving.”

Just ask Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Travis Sanheim. Johnsson victimized him a week ago to cap off an astounding hat trick accomplished in the span of 7:35 in the first period of what turned out to be a 6-0 Maple Leafs win and somewhat of a coming out party for Toronto’s 24-year old rookie forward.

On that third goal, the defenseman was reaching for a loose puck at the right faceoff dot but did not notice Johnsson behind him. Then Johnsson hit “the button” and within four seconds, he had caught Sanheim from behind, stole the puck and cut back to the net to slide it five-hole on the goaltender, and former teammate, Calvin Pickard.

In fact, it triggered Sparks’ memory of another famous goal in Maple Leafs history: Auston Matthews second career goal in his NHL debut against the Ottawa Senators, when he found a burst of speed to catch Erik Karlsson from behind along the half-boards, stole the puck and cut to the net to slide it five-hole on goaltender Craig Anderson.

If you watch closely Sparks said, you will notice nuances in their games that Matthews and Johnsson share.

“Very similar, similar play,” Sparks said. “There are similarities between Matthews and Johnsson offensively. They’re subtle but I’d say it’s the quickness and the pace they’re able to do things at, just that explosive lift and go.”

After impressing with two goals and one assist in nine regular season games during a late-season call-up last season, and two points in six playoff games, the Swede managed just one assist through his first ten games this season. At times he was a healthy scratch.

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The offensive drought also tested Johnsson who had grown accustomed to filling the net with 54 points (26 goals, 28 assists) in 54 AHL regular season games last season. In the postseason he added 24 points (10 goals, 14 assists) in 16 games en route to a Calder Cup Championship and the Jack A. Butterfield Trophy as the playoff MVP.

"It’s a little frustrating always," he said. "Before that hat trick, I felt like I created a lot of chances and I skated hard. I felt like I gave the team something during the game. It’s just trying to stay positive knowing eventually it’s going to go in.”

Johnsson noted in an interview with the Sporting News a few days after his first-career NHL hat trick that, “it gave me a confidence boost. It feels good to score on chances you get. It’s been a little bit post and out for me but now it seems post and in.

"That’s hockey but now my confidence is going up.”

It took an injury to Matthews on October 27 to get Johnsson, who had sat two games in a row, back in the lineup. Since then, he took advantage of his opportunity playing on a third line alongside center Par Lindholm and right wing Connor Brown.

Back in training camp when faced with questions about an absent William Nylander, coach Mike Babcock responded by saying it gives someone else an opportunity and that “maybe we’ll find a player.” Nylander’s absence allowed the Maple Leafs to “find” Kasperi Kapanen. Matthews’ injury let them “find” Johnsson, who responded with five points in 14 games and two more points as Matthews’ linemate in his return on Wednesday against the San Jose Sharks.

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When Babcock was asked on Nov. 27, after Johnsson went scoreless in 12:06 against the Boston Bruins, how much different a player he looks like since his banishment to the press box earlier in the season, the head coach stressed he still has work to do.

"Every single night in the league, you have to be whatever you are," said Babcock. "You have to figure out over time what your level watermark is and he’s getting better, he’s feeling more confident and he has to continue to do that to have success.”

Now 30 games into his NHL career, Johnsson said he is starting to become more comfortable with the differences between the AHL and NHL and how best to utilize his skill set.

“Of course, you get scoring chances in different areas,” Johnsson said. “Sometimes you have to shoot quicker and other opportunities you have to be more patient. It’s a fast game out there so sometimes you just have to do simple stuff and wait for the opportunities.

"I feel like I can do [everything I did in the AHL] in the NHL too but I just have to choose my times when to do it. In the AHL I felt like I could almost force a play to make a move. In the NHL, just not as often.”

"After it kind of felt unreal. It's hard to explain. I had the first goal, then the second goal and, all of a sudden, the third one, I’m like, ‘what's going on?'"



Andreas Johnsson on the emotions after his third goal tonight. #LeafsForever



Watch >> https://t.co/7YNhJ8GG5w pic.twitter.com/Dq9ni8zAui — Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) November 25, 2018

Sparks was proud of Johnsson following that three-goal performance, a game in which the netminder turned aside 34 shots for his second career NHL shutout. He said that night that he did not want to put a ceiling on how good a player Johnsson could be; however, with his skill set, he sees a player destined for a long NHL career.​

Now with five points in his past three games, Johnsson looks as though his talent is starting to show through with an improved sense of confidence. But with the roster to be shuffled soon due to the return of Nylander, he has not let himself feel too comfortable.

“For me, it’s been the whole season to get a spot, I was a healthy scratch in the beginning,” said Johnsson. “For a guy like me, I need to battle every day to prove I’m going to be in the lineup still. It’s early to go but I feel like so far I feel like I can do the stuff I want on the ice, I just have to keep working hard so hopefully, I can do the whole season.”