Maple Leafs Frederik Andersen Reveals Reason Why He's Struggling

Toronto Maple Leaf Frederik Andersen has been inconsistent this season and it sounds like there's a solid reason why. Andersen admitted on Thursday that he's playing through an injury and isn't 100%.

The Danish netminder was forced to miss a few games earlier in the season with a lower-body injury and it appears this has become a nagging ailment. Here's what Andersen had to say about what's going on right now:

I'm not really where I want to be, obviously. 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.

The pending unrestricted free-agent has a ton of motivation to succeed this season and his numbers have noticeably declined. After starting 7-1-2 in his first ten, he's only won two games of his last six and has a .887 save %. This won't get it done and especially in the playoffs where the Leafs haven't advanced past the first round in 15 years.

The Leafs take on the Calgary Flames on Friday and Saturday and Andersen's expected to get the start to open up the back-to-back. Saturday's game will likely see the return of Jack Campbell to the Maple Leafs crease.

If Andersen struggles and Campbell shines, things are going to get very interesting in the crease of Toronto Maple Leafs.