Fansided

5 reasons why the Toronto Maple Leafs can win the Stanley Cup

By Simon Vacca

TORONTO, ON - MARCH 25: Auston Matthews #34 and Mitch Marner #16 of the Toronto Maple Leafs take the ice before playing the Florida Panthers during the first period at the Scotiabank Arena on March 25, 2019 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Mark Blinch/NHLI via Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - MARCH 25: Auston Matthews #34 and Mitch Marner #16 of the Toronto Maple Leafs take the ice before playing the Florida Panthers during the first period at the Scotiabank Arena on March 25, 2019 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Mark Blinch/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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TORONTO, ON – MARCH 25: Frederik Andersen #31 of the Toronto Maple Leafs stands in net before playing the Florida Panthers at the Scotiabank Arena on March 25, 2019 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Mark Blinch/NHLI via Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON – MARCH 25: Frederik Andersen #31 of the Toronto Maple Leafs stands in net before playing the Florida Panthers at the Scotiabank Arena on March 25, 2019 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Mark Blinch/NHLI via Getty Images) /

3. The man between the pipes

Despite some dips in form in recent weeks, goaltender Frederik Andersen is far and away the most valuable part of the Leafs’ lineup.

At a glance, his totals look to be good, but not necessarily great. Consider the following:

  • Record: 35-15-6
  • Shutouts: 1
  • Save percentage: .917%
  • Goals against average: 2.78

Nevertheless, Andersen ought to be praised for the overarching depth of his workload, as well as the frequency with which he has performed at a highly productive rate. Here are some of the netminder’s numbers considered alongside his relevant ranking in the league:

  • Shots against: 1,852 (3rd in the NHL)
  • Saves: 1,698 (3rd in the NHL)
  • Games played: 57 (tied for 5th in the NHL)
  • Time on ice: 3,327:09 (9th in the NHL)

Pretty astonishing, indeed — especially in light of the fact that the Leafs allow the eighth most amount of shots per game (33.1).

When all is said and done, the consensus among many is that Andersen is one of the sport’s top goaltenders, who is more than capable of putting his team on his back. Surely among the forerunners in the 2019 Vezina race, the 29-year-old shall look to set a form of dominance into motion when the postseason arrives, as he aims to leap that mountain of a hurdle — the implications of which can be momentum-shifting for both player and organization, respectively.

How, then, can the club support its most important on-ice leader?

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