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SPORTSCENTRE Reporter

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TSN Toronto reporter Mark Masters checks in daily with news and notes on the Maple Leafs. The Leafs and Canucks held optional morning skates at Rogers Arena ahead of tonight’s game in Vancouver. 

With an 11-2-2 record and .926 save percentage over his last 15 starts, Frederik Andersen is one of the hottest goalies in hockey.

"Fred’s been the backbone for us, he’s been outstanding," said defenceman Morgan Rielly. "I think especially recently he’s been playing real good. What he means to this team is hard to explain ... he's one of the best goalies in the league so we’re lucky to have him. He’s a leader for our group and really comes in every day with the same attitude. He's a guy you can look up to, the way he approaches the game and the way he plays."

After a strong start, Andersen's momentum was slowed in December when he played through a groin injury, which eventually forced him to miss some games. As it turns out, the break actually may have helped the 29-year-old, because Andersen now looks fresh and focused. 

"I thought Freddie had a real good night the other night," head coach Mike Babcock observed. "There was obviously a period of time prior to getting hurt and then after he got hurt that he wasn't Freddie-like, but it looks like he got his game back and that’s important for us. The other thing that happened when he got hurt is he got rested, which is real important. The way we look at it is his max total can get to 56 or something, that’s a real good number for him."

Andersen started 66 games last season and has already played 48 this year. Toronto has 16 games left including tonight's tilt in Vancouver and only three more back-to-back sets so Andersen is in line for a few more nights off down the stretch even though the Leafs are still jockeying with the Boston Bruins for second place in the Atlantic Division. 

Andersen seemed to wear down a bit in the playoffs last April, posting an .896 save percentage in seven games against the Bruins. 

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Kasperi Kapanen believes his line with Auston Matthews and Andreas Johnsson can produce a lot more. 

"I don't think we're nearly as good as we could be," the 22-year-old Finn admitted. "We've done a lot of video and we've talked to Babs and we know we're a great line once we get going and these last couple games we've been mediocre. But today's another day and just got to pick it up." 

Kapanen and Matthews have one assist each in the last three games while Johnsson has zero points in the stretch. 

"We've played against good teams, but once we're going it doesn't matter what team we're playing against," Kapanen said. "We can play against anybody so it's just us kind of not being 100 per cent, but thank God we still have games left before the playoffs. We just got to get going."

What's the issue?  

"Now, we're going in and they're breaking out and we're not keeping them in the defensive zone long enough," Kapanen explained. "We play well defensively, but that's not the zone we want to play in. We want to play in their zone. I got to get heavier on pucks and get onto pucks more and more for our line so we can play in that zone. But no rush, no panic. We'll be all good."

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Toronto's three smallest players will be joining forces tonight. Nic Petan, who stands 5-foot-9, will play his second game as a Leaf skating between the 5-foot-9 Tyler Ennis and 5-foot-10 Trevor Moore on a line short on size, but heavy on skill. Frederik Gauthier will sit as a healthy scratch for the first time since Dec. 18. 

"It's important if you're going to have any success long term, you've got to have depth on your roster," said Babcock. "The more competition you have from within, by having good players, probably the more competitive you are on a nightly basis. I think it's a real good thing. I think Moore has really given us an addition. He's hard on the puck, he forechecks, he tracks, he's got real good details. Goat (Gauthier) is a real good defender and other guys have got skill. When you add it together, the four of them have done a nice job ... Goat did nothing wrong, it's just a matter of we've got a rotation right now."

Petan skated as a left winger while scoring in his Leafs debut Saturday against the Buffalo Sabres, but will move over to play centre tonight. 

"The biggest thing to me is he's got skill," Babcock noted. "I think any time your people acquire someone and they've put time into going through the process of figuring out, 'Can this guy help?' Then you try to give him the best chance. No different than these other guys. When he gets his chance, he's got to do something with his chance. That's the toughest part. Do you get the opportunity? Do you get comfortable? Do you feel confident? And are you able to execute? Just going to watch."

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After missing January's game in Toronto due to injury, Josh Leivo will suit up against his former teammates for the first time. Any added motivation? 

"Yeah, for sure," he said with a smile. "I spent six years of my career in Toronto and developed there and everything so there's a little bit of motive there to get a win."

The Innisfil, Ont., native loved playing in Toronto, but struggled to earn consistent minutes under Babcock. Tonight he's expected to slot in on a line with Elias ​Pettersson and Brock Boeser. 

"Just trying to stay patient is I think what you got to do," Leivo said of waiting for his chance. "You have some ups and downs, but if people believe in you, I think you get the opportunity and you get excited for it. You get to show what you got. And I think that's what they've done for me here and I just feel re-energized and happy to be part of this organization."

Leivo, who has eight goals and 14 points in 34 games with the Canucks, created some close bonds with several Leafs over the years, including Matthews.

"Right when he got into the league it already seemed like he was a pro, like a man," Leivo said. "He was taking care of his body right when he got into the league and everything and works on his game every day so I learned a little bit from him just watching him do those things." 

"He's a great guy," said Matthews. "He was a popular guy on the team and I still keep in touch with him. It's good to see a change [of] scenery has done him well. I'm really happy for him."

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Like Leivo, ​Pettersson also missed the game in Toronto due to injury, but he's already earned a lot of respect from Babcock. 

"I know him well ... we talked a ton about him at the draft and I saw him in Michigan at the summer tournaments and I've seen him since," the Leafs coach said. "Obviously, he's an elite talent. What I like about him is his brain, it makes the rest go. He's not the biggest guy, but he's faster with the puck than without it, he can shoot it off the pass like no one, he generates offence for the players around him, he creates space. I don't know what it is, no different than (Mitch) Marner, when the other team slows down, when you have it, you seem to go faster. He's a real intelligent player, a real good player and he'll be fun to watch. Ideally, we better not give him much space."

Pettersson​ is goalless in seven, the longest drought in his incredible rookie season, and has fired just nine shots on target during that stretch. In recent years, Marner has stressed the need to adopt more of a shooting mentality in order to offset his natural playing instincts and keep the defence honest and it seems Pettersson​ is following suit. 

"I'm not creating a lot as I used to," the Swede said. "Maybe I need to be a little more selfish and shoot the puck a couple times more, because I'm always looking for the pass ... I don't think I'm playing up to my absolute best right now. ​Hopefully I turn it around today."

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Defenceman Igor Ozhiganov was on the ice at Toronto's optional morning skate while Justin Holl was not, which means Holl is likely in tonight. 

Projected Leafs lineup for tonight's game in Vancouver:

Forwards
Hyman-Tavares-Marner
Johnsson-Matthews-Kapanen
Marleau-Nylander-Brown
Ennis-Petan-Moore 

Defencemen
Rielly-Hainsey
Muzzin-Zaitsev
Marincin-Holl

Goaltenders
Andersen starts
Sparks