More than a win. More than the shutout it could and should have been.
As the Toronto Maple Leafs were initially hindered by the list of challenges Sheldon Keefe would later detail Saturday night versus the Detroit Red Wings, beleaguered backup netminder Michael Hutchinson rose to the occasion and proved, if only for a night, that he can provide sufficient support for starter Frederik Andersen.
Beaten only on the final shot he faced in the game, Hutchinson counted 29 saves including a handful on breakaways and high-danger opportunities early, buying the Leafs more than enough time to finally initiate a sagging attack in a 4-1 victory over the league’s last-place team.