By all accounts, the Leafs deserved to lose Thursday’s game against the New York Rangers by a wide margin.
Instead, Fredrik Andersen was spectacular in a 37-save performance, salvaging a point for Toronto in a 2-1 shootout loss.
From the moment early in the first period when Andersen made back-to-back saves on Blueshirts linemates Chris Kreider and Mats Zuccarello, it was evident that the Leafs goalie was psychologically, and physically, locked into a potentially game-stealing rhythm.
“The best thing about tonight is Freddie was Freddie and we need him to be like that,” coach Mike Babcock said.