Andersen winning fans, games with surging Maple Leafs

TORONTO -- It's been more than a decade since fans at Air Canada Centre have chanted a goaltender's name with such regularity.

Until he signed with the Detroit Red Wings as a free agent in 2002, Curtis Joseph often heard capacity crowds at Toronto Maple Leafs home games salute his acrobatics in the crease with cries of "Cu-jo, Cu-jo." After future Hall of Famer Ed Belfour was brought in to replace him to start the 2002-03 season, the chants were appreciative serenades of "Ed-die, Ed-die."
Belfour was worthy of those vocal accolades, helping the Maple Leafs defeat the Ottawa Senators in seven games in the 2004 Eastern Conference Quarterfinals. Who could have guessed that, nearly 14 years later, Toronto would not have won a playoff series since then? (They have made the playoffs twice in that span; 2013, when they lost in seven games to the Boston Bruins in the conference quarterfinals, and last season, when they lost in six games to the Washington Capitals in the Eastern Conference First Round.)
Thanks in part to goaltender Frederik Andersen, however, there is hope that the dry spell will come to an end this spring.
With apologies to center Auston Matthews, Andersen (30-16-4) is considered by those inside the Toronto dressing room to be the Maple Leafs MVP this season. Their 1-0 victory against the Florida Panthers on Tuesday was his NHL career-high fifth shutout.

As the final seconds ticked down against Florida, the chants returned to Air Canada Centre, this time in the form of "Fred-die, Fred-die."
"That was great to hear, wasn't it?" Joseph said in a phone interview Wednesday. "He deserves it too. He's been great.
"Here's a kid from Denmark who started his career in Anaheim. Not the prototype you'd figure would flourish playing in the fishbowl of Toronto. But he's got the perfect easygoing demeanor to survive the spotlight."
Don't let Andersen's laid-back personality fool you, however. Underneath the surface rests a combustible personality and an intense focus on winning.
"If there is one thing I've learned about Freddie after I arrived here last year, it's just what a fiery competitor he is," backup goalie Curtis McElhinney said.
That was never more evident than in his comments after the Maple Leafs lost 3-2 in overtime at the Philadelphia Flyers on Jan. 18. It was Toronto's fourth consecutive loss.
"We've got to figure out who wants to commit to playing for the team," Andersen said. "I don't think we're tired. I think it's lack of effort at certain points and that's something that can't happen."
Since Andersen made those comments, the Maple Leafs have gone 12-3-0, and they have 21-point lead on fourth-place Florida entering their home game against the New York Islanders on Thursday (7 p.m. ET; TSN4, MSG+2, NHL.TV). Coincidence? Not in the minds of his teammates.

"Freddie's a quiet guy but when he speaks up, everyone listens," forward Zach Hyman said. "It means something.
"He's been our best player this year."
Andersen had weight issues last season, but he and coach Mike Babcock credit the goalie's new diet and strength program for his success in his fifth NHL season.
"I think a huge part of it is fitness," Babcock said. "He did a real nice job this summer and so he's just building off of confidence."
He had 40 saves against Florida, his second shutout with 40 or more saves this season; he also did it against the New Jersey Devils on Nov. 16, making 42 saves in a 1-0 overtime win. Andersen is the first Maple Leafs goalie with two 40-save shutouts in one season since the NHL began compiling official shot totals in 1955-56.
After the game, Panthers goalie Roberto Luongo called Andersen one of the top goalies in the NHL.
"It's nice [to hear]," said Andersen, 28. "Obviously, he has been around for a long time and seen a lot of good goalies. That's cool to get some praise from him."
Andersen was acquired by the Maple Leafs from the Anaheim Ducks on June 20, 2016, for a first-round pick (No. 30) in the 2016 NHL Draft and a second-round pick in the 2017 NHL Draft. Toronto general manager Lou Lamoriello signed him to a five-year contract that day.

Andersen had a 2.67 goals-against average and .918 save percentage in 66 games last season. He has improved on those numbers this season, with a 2.66 GAA and .923 save percentage in 51 games.
He had 24 wins, three shutouts and a .915 save percentage in his first 51 games last season.
"What a great move by Lou, bringing him in, then getting him locked up long term," Joseph said. "Of course, Lou knows the importance of great goaltending. He had one of the best, if not the best, in Martin Brodeur in New Jersey.
"I've always said goaltending is 80 percent of the game -- unless you don't have any, in which case it's 100 percent of the game."
The Maple Leafs have learned that lesson the hard way in recent times.
Since Belfour signed with the Panthers as a free agent in July 2006, 22 goaltenders have played for the Maple Leafs: Andersen, McElhinney, Jhonas Enroth, Antoine Bibeau, Garret Sparks, Jonathan Bernier, James Reimer, Ben Scrivens, Jean-Sebastien Giguere, Drew MacIntyre, Joey MacDonald, Jussi Rynnas, Justin Pogge, Vesa Toskala, Jonas Gustavsson, Martin Gerber, Jean-Sebastien Aubin, Scott Clemmensen, Andrew Raycroft, Mikael Tellqvist, Calvin Pickard and Joseph, who returned for a fifth season with Toronto in 2008-09. Two -- Andersen and Reimer -- have played in a playoff game for Toronto in that time. None has won a series.
Count Joseph among those who say they feel Andersen could change that trend this spring.
"The worst mistake I've ever made was leaving for Detroit and not remaining with the Leafs," said Joseph, fourth on the Maple Leafs wins list with 138. "When times are good, there is no better place to play than Toronto.
"If I could sit down with him when his deal is over, I would tell him exactly that. He should know the grass isn't greener somewhere else. I learned that the hard way.
"Right now it seems he's embracing the entire experience, both on the ice and off."
And the fans are chanting his name because of it.