Hutch does not engage enough in the loss of Leafs

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Michael Hutchinson has missed playing “meaningful” games in front of a crowd, especially at home.

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So it was unfortunate that he and the Maple Leafs couldn’t do better as goalkeeper No. 3 had a night in the Scotiabank spotlight. A sloppy second period that extended to a San Jose goal in the first inning in the third (four goals on 13 total shots) tarnished Hutchinson’s relief appearance despite a solid start and finish. With the injured Petr Mrazek skating back and going on the road with Jack Campbell to hasten his comeback from a groin injury, Hutchinson could have used some good ice vibes at home, not a 5-3 goal loss on an empty net. .

“The second period got a little bit off me,” said Hutchinson, who gave up a pair just after Toronto scored. “The first goal came in, I got a little tense and that’s probably the last thing you want. You have to be relaxed and read the play and I was a little ahead of it. If you’re tense as a goalkeeper, the puck won’t stick.

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“It’s a product of not playing for a while (from a solid exhibition piece).”

Coach Sheldon Keefe had some culprits in mind when he called Jonathan Dahlen’s 25-tick goal in the final frame “inexcusable.”

BE CAREFUL OUT
Parts of the United States have not exactly shown leadership in the fight against COVID-19.

Although the Canadian border is gradually opening up again, travelers should still be vigilant, depending on their destination, and the Leafs are no exception. Starting Saturday in Pittsburgh, the Leafs have a three-game trip that includes Carolina and Chicago. To underscore that the pandemic is not over, a pair of penguins entered and exited the COVID protocol in recent days among other members of the NHL.

“You still have to watch out,” Captain John Tavares said. “Although we are not as restricted as we were, that does not mean that there is nothing to do. It’s being diligent and understanding the dynamics of that.

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“You’ve seen a bit of that through the NHL, even the players who tested positive before the season. If you are following baseball and the NFL, it has happened in those sports as well. We have to be aware that these things are still part of our lives. “

Defender Travis Dermott didn’t think the Leafs would be gathering en masse for roadside dinners just yet.

“We will spend a lot of time together in hotels, which will be good (to come back),” he said.

Keefe was briefed Friday on the logistics for the Leafs entourage to enter the US later in the evening, aided by the decision to start at 6 p.m. against San Jose.

“Getting off the plane, customs, security … all the things that are different,” Keefe said.

ON THE ROAD AGAIN
There are probably no hordes of Leafs sweaters in a place like Pittsburgh, which can be reached in half a day by car from the GTA.

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Minor hockey tournaments are often organized in the area around Leafs trips so Canadians can attend a game, but that fan support will dwindle across the US.

“That’s understandable,” Dermott said. “I like to think that noise on the track is just noise, it excites me, for or against myself.”

Tavares joked that he had forgotten how to pack.

“Last year, we didn’t even leave our hotel (in Toronto). Now, we go back to the tradition we are used to. It should be fun to go on tour with the guys. “

DANISH BILLING
It would seem that a change to Carolina has been beneficial for Frederik Andersen.

Three starts, three wins, and most importantly, there is peace with the lower body issues that led to his uneven play and Toronto’s reluctance to re-sign him.

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“I wouldn’t say I made changes,” Andersen said of his good start in a Zoom call Thursday with the media. “They are just reminders of some things that I had lost in my game, especially last year and a little bit the year before. I was making it too difficult. Just being in a good position, being ready early and allowing my athleticism to come out, that has worked so far. “

The change of scenery probably helped too. Although he had 149 wins as Leaf, his role in four first-round playoff losses was under scrutiny. This October, usually his toughest month, he’s tied for the league lead in wins.

“Just getting ready, being in the moment, trying to get to know everyone, acclimatize quickly,” he said of the Toronto transition. “The guys have been very helpful and welcoming.”

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Yes, he watched part of the documentary All or Nothing, aware that his farewell was cast in an unfavorable light, the Leafs were too concerned about his injury history to risk bringing him back.

“I’ve never produced a show, so I wouldn’t know it, but I think shows like that tend to play a bit on the drama and exaggerate those things too much. I don’t think there was any (acrimony) on my part. I was trying to recover and it was just a frustrating period for me personally not being able to figure out what was wrong.

“Obviously, that was a story throughout the year, but I think I did everything I could to be as healthy as possible. There wasn’t enough time (in the short season) to feel at my best. That is already past.

“The first two years were very good, I enjoyed living in Toronto, an incredible city with incredible people. I made many friends that I will appreciate. We had some success, but not the maximum. “