Toronto Maple Leafs

Jack Campbell Will Start for Maple Leafs in Game 1 Against Canadiens

Although it was a tough season for Maple Leafs goalies, Campbell has emerged as Game 1 playoffs starter over Andersen. Why?

by
Old Prof
May 16, 2021

Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe has made his decision. He’s named Jack Campbell at the starter in net for Game 1 against the Montreal Canadiens on Thursday night. That decision was announced after today’s practice.

Sheldon Keefe says Jack Campbell will start for #Leafs in Game 1 vs. Montreal
— Kristen Shilton (@kristen_shilton) May 16, 2021

Campbell Has Earned the Right to Start in the Playoffs

In making the decision, coach Keefe said that he believed Campbell had earned and was deserving of the opportunity to make his first postseason start. It will be Campbell’s first ever game in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. He was superb during the 2020-21 season with a mark of 17-3-2 to go with a goals-against average of 2.15 and save percentage of .921 in 22 games.

Both Maple Leafs’ Goalies Have Been Injured this Season

On one hand, it’s been a breakout season for Campbell. However, on the other hand, it wasn’t an easy season at all. Campbell hurt his leg during a game against the Calgary Flames on January 24. Then, during his next start against the Edmonton Oilers more than a month later on February 27, he re-aggravated the injury.

However, once he had come back after he was completely healed, he went on an NHL record-setting run where, when it was over, he had begun the 2020-21 regular season with 11 straight victories. No one in NHL history had ever done that.

Longtime starter Frederik Andersen also had a difficult season, but he didn’t bounce back from his injury as well as Campbell did. Andersen first suffered the injury on February 15 against the Montreal Canadiens and was able to come back on March 3 against the Oilers. But Andersen’s play simply wasn’t as solid after his injury and during the season he never matched his pre-injury level.

Campbell Emerged as a True Starter This season

Despite his injuries, Campbell emerged as a true starter this season. Ever humble, during the season Campbell thanked the trainers and coaches for helping him play. “The trainers have done a great job with me every single day and I’m thankful to the coaches for giving me the time [to heal]. I am feeling really good and excited to back out there whenever my number’s called.”

Until this season, Campbell had never really been considered an NHL starter. He had played in 31 games for the Los Angeles Kings during the 2018-19 season and then 20 more games in 2019-20 before he came to the Maple Leafs in February 2020. Last season he only played six games before the NHL’s COVID-19 suspension.

The Bottom Line Is that the Maple Leafs Trust Campbell

Suddenly, Campbell is in a situation where the team and the organization have come to trust him. It also doesn’t hurt that he has am amazingly affable personality and is exceedingly popular among his teammates and fans.

Jack Campbell, Maple Leafs Playoff Starter

As it stands currently, Andersen’s play has become a bit of a mystery. How will he do if he’s put into a playoff game? That same question is no longer that much of an issue with Campbell. Sure he lacks experience, but his confidence and confidence in him seems to be at an all-time high.

Still, until the playoffs have been put to bed, really no one knows whether that is enough. Maple Leafs’ fans are hoping.