TORONTO – We’re nearly four weeks into Petr Mrazek’s career as a Toronto Maple Leaf, and the highest-paid goaltender on the club has played a grand total of five periods.
Upon signing the veteran netminder to a three-year, $11.4-million contract as a free agent over the summer, Toronto envisioned a friendly internal competition for the net.
Instead, Mrazek’s poor health has turned the crease into a one-man show.
Jack Campbell, 29, will make his 10th appearance in this young season Saturday, as the Maple Leafs host the Boston Bruins and look to build on their four-game win streak.
Campbell has posted a 5-2-1 record with a sparkling 1.89 goals-against average and .932 save percentage. He has allowed four goals total in his past four appearances.
Mrazek, meanwhile, is 1-1 with a 4.20 GAA and a .877 save percentage.
Earlier this week, Mrazek re-aggravated the groin injury he suffered on Oct. 14 in Ottawa and is being re-evaluated Saturday.
The Leafs expect to have more clarity on a timeline for recovery by Sunday.
Because Mrazek played on Oct. 30, he cannot be retroactively placed on LTIR back to mid-October.
The Maple Leafs recalled Joseph Woll Saturday to back up Campbell.
The 23-year-old prospect is 2-1 with a .895 save percentage for the AHL Marlies this season.
“We liked his camp and he’s coming off a really strong start for him,” coach Sheldon Keefe explained. “[Michael] Hutchinson is going to play today for the Marlies, so it’s a good opportunity for Woll to come in here.”
No doubt, Campbell has played fantastic, but without a healthy legitimate backup to lean on, his workload is already being monitored in Toronto.
Head coach Sheldon Keefe is doing his best to temper alarm bells.
“I wouldn’t call it a concern because he’s been really healthy, and I think we’ve managed him really well on off-days and practice days for the workload purpose,” Keefe said.
“So, we’re obviously very comfortable continuing with Jack.”
The Maple Leafs’ next back-to-back arrives Friday versus Calgary and Saturday at Buffalo.
Campbell will need relief for one of those games.
One-Timers: Justin Holl will serve his fourth consecutive healthy scratch Saturday, while rookie Timothy Liljegren plays a fourth straight game…. The Leafs will revert back to the same forward lines they used to start Thursday’s Lightning game. So while Keefe reunited Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner mid-game to jolt the group, he’s pairing Matthews with William Nylander and Marner with John Tavares for puck drop again…. Linus Ullmark gets the start in net for the Bruins.
Mrazek suffers injury setback as Maple Leafs turn to Campbell against Bruins
Source: Pinas Ko Mahal
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