Toronto Maple Leafs

Andersen leaves practice, McElhinney starts; Leafs recall Sparks, Kapanen
March 27, 2017, 12:50 PM ET [203 Comments]
Mike Augello
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Frederik Andersen took to the ice at the MasterCard Centre in Etobicoke, participating in practice but leaving early, which puts the Leafs starter’s health status in question after not returning in the 5-2 loss to Buffalo on Saturday.

Andersen allowed two goals on 16 shots in the first period and was replaced by backup Curtis McElhinney after the intermission, as Sabres team doctors advised that he should not return to the game.



“I got bumped pretty early in the game and I didn’t feel right the rest of the period.” Andersen said following practice on Monday. “I just kinda felt a little bit ‘off’ and I just wanted to see what would happen in the intermission and we decided to take it easy."

The injury was thought to be concussion-related, but the Toronto Star’s Dave Feschuk reported that Andersen suffered a jaw injury, similar to the injury he suffered late last season with the Anaheim Ducks. The Leafs goaltender was hesitant to go into detail about how he feels or when he may be back in the lineup.

“It’s tough to predict, but we’re taking it slow. It felt pretty good today, but we’re taking it one day at a time.”

Andersen skated with goalie coach Steve Briere prior to practice, returned to the ice with his teammates along with McElhinney and Garret Sparks and took part for about 20 minutes before heading to the locker room.

The big Dane experienced dizziness after the injury with Anaheim last March(but did not encounter any concussion symptoms) and was unavailable near the end of the regular season. John Gibson started the first two games of the first round series against the Nashville Predators.

Head coach Mike Babcock indicated that McElhinney will get the start against the Florida Panthers at Air Canada Centre on Tuesday and that Sparks has been recalled from the Toronto Marlies on an emergency basis.

“It doesn’t appear to be long(term), obviously that’s great, but the way I look at injuries all the time is that it’s an opportunity for (McElhinney) here.” Babcock said. “We have to play real well and get ourselves a win.”

Sparks, 23, has a 18-7-0 record, 2.08 GAA and .927 save percentage with the Marlies, but had not played for a month prior to a pair of victories against Springfield and Syracuse on the weekend that helped vault Toronto into first place in the AHL North Division.

Toronto also recalled winger Kasperi Kapanen and the 20-year-old will get his first NHL action this season against the Panthers.




With injuries to Eric Fehr, Nikita Soshnikov and Josh Leivo, veteran Ben Smith made his return to the lineup for the first time since February 25 and in just under 11 minutes of ice time, was on for Evander Kane’s go-ahead goal and Jack Eichel’s power-play tally on Saturday.

Kapanen has 18 goals and 25 assists in 43 games for the Marlies and led the club in goals prior to suffering a lower body injury against Syracuse in mid-January. After returning in early March, Kapanen regained his form (1 goal, 4 assists in his last three games) and appears ready for another crack at the NHL, playing on the fourth line with veterans Brian Boyle and Matt Martin.

“(Kapanen)was tearing the (AHL) apart and then got injured. He provides real good speed.” Babcock said. “He’ll make (the fourth line) way quicker. There’s no one on our team as quick as him, so get (in)on the forecheck, be real good on the penalty-kill for us.”