EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — Sheldon Keefe’s head triumphed over his heart.
Rather than give goaltender Jack Campbell a start on Thursday against his former club, the Los Angeles Kings, Keefe will turn to Frederik Andersen after Campbell was sharp against the San Jose Sharks on Tuesday.
Campbell will start on Friday in Anaheim against the Ducks, giving Andersen another rest.
“The biggest thought process for us is we wanted to get Jack in two out of three games this week,” Keefe said. “That trumps anything in terms of him playing against his former team.
“Also, Fred’s our starting goaltender. It makes sense for him coming off (the fact) he didn’t play (Tuesday) night, had a full practice day (Wednesday) and he goes in and plays a game. He deserves that. At this time of year especially, you have to make those right decisions.”
Keefe has spoken of load management regarding Andersen, without using those words specifically.
Andersen has made 50 starts this season, tying him for third-most in the NHL prior to games on Wednesday. Campbell gives the Leafs a legitimate, don’t-need-to-worry backup, and we assume Campbell will be used more in the final month of the regular season.
Defenceman Rasmus Sandin will be back in the lineup after sitting in San Jose, with Calle Rosen likely to be scratched.
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Toronto: M. Salomaki (7) SH (Unassisted), S. Pooley (8) (H. Elynuik), M. Read (13) PP (K. Agostino, M. Lorito), E. Korshkov (16) (M. Kapla) Goaltender: J. Woll (21/29)
Belleville: N. Baptiste (4) (M. Klimchuk, P. Kelly), F. Chlapik (8) (J. LaBate, D. Archibald), M. Lajoie (3) (J. Norris, V. Abrmaov), J. Szwarz (18) (M. Carcone, J. Aspirot), J. Norris (31) (D. Batherson, V. Abramov), M. Carcone (13) (Unassisted), D. Archibald (11) (J. Aspirot), M. Klimchuk (12) (P. Kelly, N. Baptiste) Goaltender: A. Dubeau (19/23)
ON THE SCORESHEET
Miikka Salomaki put the Marlies on the board with an unassisted shorthanded goal at 19:05 of the first period. He has three points (2 goals, 1 assist) through five games with the Marlies this season. This was his first career AHL shorthanded goal.
Scott Pooley scored at 5:07 of the second period. Pooley has 11 points (8 goals, 3 assists) in 27 games this season.
Matt Read scored on the power play at 17:26 of the second period. This was his first power play goal of the season.
Egor Korshkov scored at 3:06 of the third period. He has six points (5 goals, 1 assist) in seven games against Belleville. Korshkov has 25 points (16 goals, 9 assists) through 41 games.
Hudson Elynuik registered the lone assist on Pooley’s second period goal. Elynuik has 11 points (3 goals, 8 assists) in 49 games this season.
Kenny Agostino recorded the primary assist on Read’s second period power play goal. Agostino has seven points (2 goals, 5 assists) in his last five games.
Matt Lorito had the secondary assist on Read’s second period power play goal. He has three assists in his last two games. Lorito has 26 points (9 goals, 17 assists) in 55 games this season.
Michael Kapla picked up the lone assist on Korshkov’s third period goal. Kapla has five points (1 goal, 4 assists) in 13 games this season.
Joseph Woll stopped 21 of 29 shots he faced. Woll is now 11-14-3-2 on the season with a .879 save percentage and a 3.83 goals against average.
OF NOTE…
Toronto was 2-for-2 on the penalty kill and 1-for-8 on the power play. Toronto has six shorthanded goals this season.
Belleville had a 29-23 edge in shots in all situations. Miikka Salomaki led the Marlies with four shots on goal.
The Marlies are 15-17-3-1 against North Division opponents and 5-5-0-0 against the Belleville Senators.
REGULAR SEASON LEADERS
Goals: K. Agostino (25)
Assists: J. Bracco (30)
Points: K. Agostino (47)
PPG: K. Agostino (7)
Shots: P. Aberg (138)
+/-: E. Korshkov, M. Salomaki (+11)
PIMS: G. Wilson (75)
RECORD WHEN…
The Marlies are 9-14-1-0 when trailing after the first period and 5-19-2-1 when trailing after the second period.
Toronto is 19-15-1-2 when outshot by their opponent.
The Marlies are 3-5-0-0 in Wednesday games and are 1-1-0-0 in March.
CURRENT POINT STREAKS
Kenny Agostino has points (2-1-3) in consecutive games.
Matt Lorito has assists (3) in consecutive games.
Scott Pooley has points (1-1-2) in consecutive games).
MARLIES UPDATES.
Adam Brooks (concussion) did not dress for tonight’s game against Belleville. He left Toronto’s game against Belleville on February 15 and did not return.
Kasimir Kaskisuo (hand) did not dress for tonight’s game against Belleville.
Kalle Kossila (migraines) did not dress for tonight’s game against Belleville.
Jesper Lindgren (high ankle sprain)did not dress for tonight’s game against Belleville. Heleft Toronto’s game against Cleveland on January 24 in the third period and did not return.
Nic Petan (shoulder) did not dress for tonight’s game against Belleville. He left Toronto’s game against Rochester on February 8 and did not return.
RECENT TRANSACTIONS
February 27: Recalled defenceman Sergei Sapego from loan to Newfoundland (ECHL).
February 26: Recalled defenceman Calle Rosen from loan by Toronto (NHL).
February 25: Loaned defenceman Miles Gendron to Newfoundland (ECHL).
February 25: Loaned forward Matt Lorito from Toronto (NHL).
February 24: Traded forward Nick Baptiste to Belleville (AHL).
February 24: Recalled goaltender Parker Gahagen from Newfoundland (ECHL).
POSTGAME QUOTES
HEAD COACH GREG MOORE
On what was different in tonight’s loss versus the comeback win against Texas: Our lack of compete right from the start. For how many points we need right now and what this week is and what we’ve been talking about and they know our playoff lives are on the line here, that first period wasn’t good enough and to think that we can turn it on late against a good team like this, the players should be really down on themselves.
On what kind of team the Marlies are when they have success: Our team, we can play our possession style if we have the compete and we do at times and when our brains are turned on and we’re engaged and active in the game, we’re not shoulder-checking, we’re not identifying what the time and space is around us before we get the puck, it ends up playing too slow. They just think that they can take a game off all of sudden, just because they had two decent games they put together and they’ve got to find a way to want more than that for themselves within our brand and we’ve had success winning hockey games by all five guys on the ice being active and holding onto the puck and making plays with each other, it’s when we get individual.
On if it was tough leaving Joseph Woll in for the entire game: It was tough. We were finding our way back in the game so it didn’t feel as though we got too far away from it. He’s a great goaltender, he deserves a lot better. I could hear guys after in the room not happy with themselves and know that our goalie deserves a lot better than what they gave him here tonight.
NEXT GAME:
March 6 vs Syracuse – 7:00 p.m. ET March 7 vs Syracuse – 7:00 p.m. ET March 11 at Bridgeport – 7:00 p.m. ET March 13 at Hershey – 7:00 p.m. ET March 14 at Lehigh Valley – 7:05 p.m. ET
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They played really hard today. We just finished a stretch of games here where we played against some of the top teams in the League. For me, that was a harder game for us to play today, just the pace the puck moved, the pace that their feet moved, how competitive they were. Our inability to respond to that and find another level in our game causes a problem where we just — the ice tilted in that second period and we just couldn’t get it back. So that was really tough. The third period to me was pretty even, we just gave up some chances that ended up in our net, but the second period was where they really established their game and took it to us. Strange as it is, that’s the one that we win. We win that period of the three. So we’re in a good spot to try and play there in the third but we gave up too many chances and eventually cost us. You don’t win games when you score two goals.
On Jack Campbell’s play tonight:
I thought he battled all through that second period. There’s a lot of shots, a lot of pucks coming at him. He made some great saves for us there to keep us in the game and give us a chance to win that period and then set us up for the third. Some of the goals — when you look at the goals that go in, there’s some funny stuff happening behind the net, behind the goal line, stuff like that, but he battled and made saves for us. As I said, their goaltender made saves too. We had some real high-end chances that didn’t go in for us, but we’ve got to find a way to generate more than two goals if we want to have a chance to win, and then we can’t give up nearly what we gave up today. A lot of things that haven’t been issues for us in terms of odd-man rushes against and guys getting behind us — we’ve been talking about how we’ve cleaned that up pretty well, but It came back into our game today, I think, in part due to the pace of play, and we just didn’t respond well to it.
JACK CAMPBELL (33 SAVES)
On what San Jose did well in the second period:
I just know they got a lot better. I’m just disappointed. I thought we played, we battled and, you know, I just think Jones outplayed me, bottom line. So I’m not happy about that and I just feel responsible for this one.
On if San Jose is known for lively boards when pucks are shot into the zone:
I’ve played well here before and yeah, I don’t know what was going on there. They must have greased them up before the game. The pucks were coming off pretty strange angles, but no excuses. I’ve just got to find the puck and make the save.
On if he felt any rust after not playing the prior seven games:
No. I felt sharp and dialed in and no excuse for giving up four. It’s just not acceptable.
MITCH MARNER (1 GOAL)
On where the game got away from the team:
Most of that second period they dominated us. They did what they wanted to and we didn’t win enough puck battles. The only reason we really had a chance going into that third period was because of Jack. He played great tonight like usual for us and made it feel possible, got us through that second period and that third we just gave up too many chances. We weren’t stopping on pucks or being strong enough on pucks and it came back to haunt us.
On if the team is still learning how to be more consistent when things go wrong:
I think it’s just the consistency of every shift. It’s just knowing that you want to watch guys go on before you and battle, get in lanes. Coming into this game we talked about how they have one of the best, if not the best guy, at getting pucks through. When that’s happening, we know their game plan is going to be trying to get pucks through on tips, high tips, low tips. We need guys to get in lanes, we need guys to sacrifice for each other and I think that’s something that we’re just missing. It’s just guys needing to buy in more and getting themselves ready.
AUSTON MATTHEWS (1 GOAL, 1 ASSIST)
On trying to play catch up tonight:
Yeah, they play fast. I think the momentum kind of tipped their way and I think we didn’t really do a very good job of getting it back. I think they just kept coming and coming and a lot of times, we just had no pushback. Tough to get stuff going that way.
On San Jose making a big push in the second period:
Yeah, for sure. I think we just got caught out there and they were able to just continue to play in our zone and kind of tire us out, tire our back end out and just kind of wear on us. So, like I said, they came with a good push there and we just really had no answer.
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Auston Matthews put the Maple Leafs on the board at 2:48 of the second period before registering the primary assist on Mitch Marner’s second period goal. Matthews has goals (3) in three consecutive games and points (3-3-6) in four consecutive games. Tonight’s game is Matthews’ 25th multi-point performance of the season, which is tied for the sixth-most in the NHL. He ranks second among NHLers in goals (46) and ninth among NHLers in points (46-33-79). In seven career games against the Sharks, he has recorded 11 points (8-3-11).
Mitch Marner scored the second Maple Leafs goal of the night at 17:27 of the second period. Marner has points (1-3-4) in four consecutive games. He has recorded 27 points (12 goals, 15 assists) in 25 games on the road this season, collecting 12 of his 17 goals away from home. He has recorded 10 points (2-8-10) in eight career games against San Jose.
Martin Marincin registered the lone assist on Matthews’ second period goal. Marincin has points (1-2-3) in three consecutive games. He has recorded a goal and three assists in 24 games played this season. All three of his assists have come on the road in 2019-20.
Calle Rosen picked up the secondary assist on Marner’s second period goal. Rosen’s point is his first with Toronto since being re-acquired by the club on February 24. He has three assists in 11 games played between Colorado and Toronto this season.
The Maple Leafs went 1-for-2 on the penalty kill and 0-for-3 on the power play tonight.
Kyle Clifford, Justin Holl and Kasperi Kapanen started 20 percent of their 5-on-5 shifts in the offensive zone, which was the lowest mark among Toronto skaters.
Tyson Barrie was on the ice for a team-high 20 shot attempts at 5-on-5 tonight. Barrie finished the game with a 5-on-5 shot attempt percentage of 47.6 (20 for, 22 against).
John Tavares won 67 percent (4 won, 2 lost) of his offensive zone faceoffs.
UPCOMING GAMES:
Thursday, March 5, 10:30 p.m. at Los Angeles Kings (Sportsnet Ontario, TSN 1050
Friday, March 6, 10:00 p.m. at Anaheim Ducks (TSN4, TSN 1050)
Tuesday, March 10, 7:00 p.m. vs. Tampa Bay Lightning (TSN4, TSN 1050)
Thursday, March 12, 7:00 p.m. vs. Nashville Predators (TSN4, TSN 1050)
Saturday, March 14, 7:00 p.m. at Boston Bruins (Sportsnet, FAN 590)
Phoenix Suns Harper, Jared Out G League – Two-Way Johnson, Cameron Probable Injury/Illness – Low Back/right Hip; Contusion Kaminsky, Frank Out Injury/Illness – Right Patella; Stress Fracture Lecque, Jalen Out G League – On Assignment Oubre Jr., Kelly Out Injury/Illness – Right Knee; injury Owens, Tariq Out G League – Two-Way Toronto Raptors Brissett, Oshae Out G League – Two-Way Gasol, Marc Out Injury/Illness – Left Hamstring; Tightness Hernandez, Dewan Out Injury/Illness – Right Ankle; Sprain Ibaka, Serge Doubtful Injury/Illness – Right Knee; Soreness VanVleet, Fred Doubtful Injury/Illness – Left Shoulder; Soreness Watson, Paul Out G League – Two-Way
Fred VanVleet (sore shoulder) and Serge Ibaka (sore knee) were listed as doubtful and Marc Gasol (hamstring) was listed as out for the away game Tuesday night against the Phoenix Suns.
VanVleet and Ibaka have missed the past two games. Gasol will miss his 14th straight game.
The Raptors and Suns will be trying to end three-game losing streaks. The Suns will be without Kelly Oubre Jr. (knee) for the fourth consecutive game.
The Raptors defeated the Suns in Toronto 118-101 on Feb. 21.
TORONTO – The Suns (22-34), playing their first game back after the All-Star break, dug a huge hole in the first half but nearly fought their way out of it in the second half before ultimately falling 118-101 to the Toronto Raptors (41-15) at Scotiabank Arena. The Suns held their final lead of the game at 14-13 in the first quarter before the Raptors went on a 13-2 run to take their first double-digit lead of the game. The Raptors dominated the second quarter, outscoring the Suns 36-20 in the period, taking their largest lead of the game at 67-41 just before taking a 24-point lead into the intermission as Pascal Siakam had 25 points at halftime. The Suns opened the second half on a 19-8 run to cut into the lead and trailed by 15 going into the fourth quarter. In the fourth, Deandre Ayton scored all seven points on a 7-1 Suns run to cut the score to 96-90 with 8:08 remaining. Six points was as close as the Suns would get before the Raptors ended the game on a 16-6 run. The Suns shot 41.3% from the field as Toronto had 13 blocked shots. Devin Booker led the Suns with 21 points while Ayton had 17 points and 10 boards. Siakam finished with 37 points to lead the Raptors. RAPTORS
The view from left field 