Leafs' Andersen back vs. Avs after 8-game absence

Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Frederik Andersen returned to the crease on Monday against the Colorado Avalanche.

Andersen missed Toronto's last eight games due to a groin injury and more recently, the flu.

He's put himself in the Vezina Trophy conversation this season on the back of a 20-9-1 record with a .923 save percentage and a 2.50 goals-against average.

Andersen has arguably been Toronto's MVP this season, as the club went 4-4-0 during his eight-game hiatus - with Garret Sparks and Michael Hutchinson defending the cage - but managed a 9-5-0 record during Auston Matthews' month-long absence earlier in the campaign.

Sparks missed the last five games due to a concussion, but he'll return as Andersen's backup on Monday, according to Masters.

Since Hutchinson has played less than 10 games this season, he can be sent down to the AHL without having to clear waivers. The Maple Leafs traded a fifth-round pick to the Florida Panthers for Hutchinson on Dec. 29.