Andersen surrendered five goals on 30 shots in the Maple Leafs’ 5-4 overtime loss to the Senators on opening night. Andersen has struggled to start his Maple Leafs career and his struggles cost the Maple Leafs the win on a night where rookie Auston Matthews scored four goals in front of him. He will look for a better result tonight against a Boston team that put up a six-spot on the Blue Jackets on Thursday.
Last year Andersen had 22 wins with a 2.30 GAA and .919 SV% with the Ducks, but was traded to Toronto this season, where he will be leaned on to solidify the Maple Leafs’ crease. Andersen has a career. 918 SV% in 125 career games with Anaheim, but he will find it tougher sledding behind the Maple Leafs in 2016-17. Andersen enters the season as a solid No.2 fantasy option and makes for a solid season opening start in Ottawa.
Lemieux was the 31st overall pick in 2014 and will start the year in Manitoba. The son of former NHLer Claude Lemieux had 32 goals and 30 assists (62 points) in 45 OHL games with Barrie and Windsor last season. The 20-year-old also had three points (2G / 1A) in five AHL games and should be a key contributor to the Moose’s success this season.
Andersen was injured at the World Cup of Hockey, but was a full participant in Monday’s practice and will make his first start with his new team in Tuesday’s exhibition game in Saskatoon. Andersen is coming off of a 22-win season with a 2.30 GAA and .919 SV% with the Ducks and should be in line for 55-go-60 starts in Toronto.
Orlov is a key member of the Capitals’ top-4 on the blueline and will still be a restricted free agent after his one-year contract is up. The 25-year-old is coming off of his best offensive season, having posted eight goals and 21 assists (29 points) in 82 games.
Dzingel, 24, split the 2015-16 campaign between Ottawa and Binghamton (AHL). His 30 games with Ottawa were the first 30 games of his NHL career and he tallied three goals with six assists. In his time with the the “Baby Sens” he picked up 36 points (12G / 24A) in 44 contests. Dzingel figures to be in the Senators opening day roster.
Hall spent the first six years of his NHL career in Edmonton after they selected him 1st overall in the 2010 NHL Draft. Hall is coming off of a 26-goal, 39-assist (65 points) season and has a career-high of 80 points (2013-14). The 24-year-old is one of the best young wingers in the NHL and should provide the Devils with a huge boost up front. He will be reunited with his former junior teammate Adam Henrique.
Tokarski, 26, appeared in just two games with San Diego (AHL) after being acquired from the Canadiens—he was 1-1-0 with a 2.35 GAA and .920 SV%. Tokarski is 10-12-5 with a 2.85 GAA and .904 SV% in 27 career NHL starts.
A few hours after acquiring Andersen from the Anaheim Ducks, the Maple Leafs inked their new goalie to a five-year deal worth $5 million per year. Andersen is expected to be the Leafs’ No. 1 netminder in 2016-17.
Andersen was set to become a restricted free agent on July 1st, but there are reports that the Maple Leafs have already signed Andersen to a five-year contract extension. The 26-year-old, who went 22-9-7 with a 2.30 GAA and .919 SV% with Anaheim last year will compete with Jonathan Bernier for the Leafs No.1 job this fall. He has a carer 2.33 GAA and .918 SV% in 124 career starts.
After John Gibson started and lost the first two games of the series, the Ducks will turn to Andersen tonight for a pivotal game three. Andersen had a strong year, going 22-9-7 with a 2.30 GAA, .919 SV% and three shutouts. Two of those starts came against the Predators, where he went 1-1-0 wit ha 3.48 GAA and .904 SV%.
Andersen will miss his third straight game with a concussion, but the Ducks are expecting to have him back before the end of the regular season. Andersen will not back-up on Tuesday, those duties will be left up to Anton Khudobin.
Lemieux, 20, was the Jets’ second round pick (31st overall) in 2014. He split his season between the Barrie Colts and Windsor Spitfires (OHL), tallying a total of 32 goals and 30 assists (62 points) in 45 regular season games and five points (4G / 1A) in three playoff games with Windsor.
