OTTAWA, ON - MARCH 14: Toronto Maple Leafs Goalie Frederik Andersen (31) awaits the the play during second period National Hockey League action between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Ottawa Senators on March 14, 2021, at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, ON, Canada.

Maple Leafs' Andersen admits he's playing through injury

5 years ago
Icon Sportswire / Getty

Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Frederik Andersen says the lower-body injury that forced him to miss time earlier in the season is still bothering him despite his return.

"I'm not really where I want to be, obviously," Andersen said Thursday. "I think I'm working towards just getting to as good as possible. But I think everyone goes through a season where you'll have something going on. It's just a matter of how well you can manage it and play through it.

"I don't think anyone's going to have a season where you don't feel a little bit (banged up) here and there, and you try to do the best you can to manage it and play as well as you can."

Andersen was injured in a win over the Montreal Canadiens on Feb. 20. He missed the next four games, then returned for a victory over the Edmonton Oilers on March 3.

The veteran netminder's play has noticeably declined since he rejoined the club. Andersen went 7-1-2 with a .911 save percentage in the 10 games before he got hurt - including the contest against Montreal - but he's won only two of six appearances while posting a .887 save percentage since returning.

Toronto has had four days between games this week and will host the Calgary Flames in a back-to-back Friday and Saturday.

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