Frederik Andersen is posting a .961 in the playoffs and the Maple Leafs are the reason nobody saw this coming

Coming off the heels of another shutout, Frederik Andersen has cemented himself as the playoff goalie to watch this year. To go along with a staggering .961 SV%, he also has a 0.90 GAA and is already rocking two shutouts.

He's been a revelation and someone that the Hurricanes are getting a surprising amount of length from despite numerous injuries and setbacks throughout his career. This is the Andersen they expected when he came in, and their patience is paying off.

But it also might frustrate some Toronto Maple Leafs fans as Andersen was very much not this type of goalie when he was in the postseason with them from 2016-2019. In that time he only posted 10-14-0 record with a .916 SV% and a 2.78 GAA.

Still good numbers individually, but they present the deeper rooted issues which is the fact that the Maple Leafs really didn't have a system in front of him that can elevate him to that elite status.

In his first season the team lost 4-2 to the Washington Capitals in the first round, but while he was good it was the defensive group in front of that wasn't.

Nikita Zaitsev and Matt Hunwick were a combined minus-7, but even if guys like Morgan Rielly and Jake Gardiner were pluses — that's a duo who can't defend to save their lives.

There was so much flak thrown at Andersen for not being able to settle things down when it got tough, but again it was always coming back to the same issues. It was the guys in front of him who wouldn't allow him more of a chance to succeed. Rielly, Zaitsev, Gardiner and Travis Dermott were a combined minus-13 in the 2017-18 series; which is why Andersen struggled.

You can't blame Andersen. He was stellar for three seasons both in the regular season and playoffs despite one bad year and consistently bad defence. If he also stayed a bit healthier we could have been looking at a much different outcome, but it doesn't excuse his lack of help.

Switching gears to where Andersen is now, the Hurricanes built a monster in front of him and it's been great ever since. When you have guys like Jaccob Slavin, K'Andre Miller, Mike Reilly, and Shayne Gostisbehere all pulling their weight it makes life a lot easier.

Some of their advanced possession numbers are downright absurd such as Reilly with a staggering 76.5% Corsi for — Carolina controls the puck over 3/4 of the time he's on the ice. Video game numbers here folks.

Andersen can feel comfortable knowing that if the puck is in his zone he doesn't need to fret. Once the team gathers possession it's likely he doesn't need to worry about things for the next little bit, and can refocus and be ready for the next attack.

It's a luxury few goalies are given and Andersen has taken full advantage. Eric Tulsky knew what he was doing when he added the goalie to the lineup, because the plan was already set in place to protect him before he walked in the door.

It's a level of proactiveness the Maple Leafs can only dream of, and probably should start trying to emulate sooner than later.

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