Maple Leafs breathing a little easier after Andersen's bounce back

The patrons were beginning to stir.

For at least one night, Frederik Andersen quieted the noise starting to dull the excitement around the Toronto Maple Leafs, anchoring a 3-2 win over the Florida Panthers to help snap the club's four-game losing skid.

"It feels good," Andersen told TSN's Mark Masters. "When you have a bad game, you want to bounce back right away. It was nice to get in again and play well."

Allowing at least four goals in all but one start with Toronto entering the contest, the efficient performance had to have been a weight off Andersen's shoulders. But really, it did wonders across the board.

Mike Babcock, who worked to deflect from the topic all week, instead was eager to point out that Andersen was "by far" the Maple Leafs' best player on a night Mitch Marner recorded three assists.

"This would be as many good chances as we've given up all year probably and we turned the puck over as much as we have, period, but the goalie was good. It just goes to show you how important goaltending is. I'm real happy for Freddy."

And his team seemed appreciative, too.