Frederik Andersen will play half a game for Toronto of the American Hockey League on Thursday, continuing to work his way back from a lower-body injury, Toronto Maple Leafs coach coach Sheldon Keefe said.
"That's a great way for him to settle back into it," Keefe said Wednesday. "Things will then be assessed from there."
The goalie participated in a full practice with the Maple Leafs for the second time in the past six weeks Wednesday. Andersen has not played since a 4-3 home loss to the Calgary Flames on March 19 and said last week he has been dealing with knee issues and has embraced the time to heal.
"Today was an important day for him, and all indications are that the day went well and he's feeling good," Keefe said.
Toronto (33-13-6) is first in the seven-team Scotia North Division, six points ahead of the second-place Edmonton Oilers, and has clinched a berth in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The Maple Leafs have four games remaining in the regular season, starting with a home game against the Montreal Canadiens on Thursday (7 p.m. ET; TSN4, TSN2, RDS, NHL.TV).
Toronto ends the regular season at the Winnipeg Jets on May 14. A start date for the playoffs has not been announced.
"It's great to see him progressing and getting closer," Maple Leafs captain John Tavares said. "Obviously we like our team, especially when we have a full lineup."
Andersen missed four games with a lower-body injury Feb. 22-March 1 before returning and playing seven of Toronto's next eight games. He said March 18 that the injury that caused him to miss those games was bothering him when he returned.
Andersen is 13-8-2 with a 2.91 goals-against average and .897 save percentage in 23 games (22 starts) this season.
Jack Campbell and David Rittich are the Maple Leafs goalies. Campbell is 15-2-2 with a 2.11 GAA, .925 save percentage and two shutouts in 19 starts. Rittich is 1-1-1 with a 2.72 GAA and .888 save percentage in four games (three starts) since he was acquired in a trade with the Flames for a third-round pick in the 2022 NHL Draft on April 11.
Keefe said forward Nick Foligno, who limped off the ice during a 3-2 overtime loss at Montreal on Monday, is day to day with a lower-body injury and is unlikely to play at Montreal on Thursday and Saturday. Forwards Riley Nash (knee) and Zach Hyman (knee) each wore a non-contact jersey during practice Wednesday and are not expected to play the next two games.
Justin Holl practiced with a face shield and said he's ready to play Thursday. The defenseman missed one game after he was hit in the face by the puck during a 5-1 win against the Vancouver Canucks on Saturday.
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