Maple Leafs' Campbell to start Game 1 vs. Canadiens

Jack Campbell will start Game 1 of the Toronto Maple Leafs' first-round playoff series against the Montreal Canadiens, Maple Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe said Sunday, according to TSN's Kristen Shilton.

It'll be Campbell's debut in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

"He's deserving of the opportunity," Keefe said, according to NHL.com's Mike Zeisberger.

Keefe said Campbell's regular-season performance and the club's faith in him factored into the decision.

"Just his results in wins, saves, the confidence he's built for himself and, in (turn), the confidence he's given the team," the Maple Leafs bench boss explained.

Campbell went 17-3-2 with a .921 save percentage in 22 games, all of which were starts. The 29-year-old set Toronto's franchise record with his 10th straight victory April 7, and he won his 11th consecutive contest three days later.

The former backup goalie for both the Maple Leafs and the Los Angeles Kings took over as Toronto's de facto starter after Frederik Andersen suffered an injury. Campbell held on to the job when Andersen struggled upon returning.

Andersen went 13-8-3 with a .895 save percentage and a minus-8.6 goals saved above average while being limited to 24 contests.

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