Campbell sets record while taking advantage of latest opportunity
Story and graphic by soogreyhounds.com
Toronto Maple Leafs GM Kyle Dubas and netminder Jack Campbell are familiar with each other.
As a matter of fact, they have went full circle.
Nine years after Dubas brought Campbell north from Windsor to Sault Ste. Marie in the OHL, he set the flight path northbound in bringing the netminder from the sunshine of Los Angeles and into the spotlight in Toronto.
The move came after the Port Huron, MI native had been provided confidence and opportunity while appearing in 51 games for the Kings as part of two seasons.
And while is often the case, patience would be a virtue, and opportunity would eventually present itself and yield results for the 6.02, 197-lb netminder.
After appearing in 6 games during the unusual Covid-bubble season of 2019-20 with the Leafs, Campbell would enter the current season among three netminders with the Leafs; himself, Frederik Andersen and Michael Hutchinson.
The season would start anything but ideal, as in his second start of the year Campbell would suffer a left leg injury that would see the former U.S. National Program standout miss over a month before returning between the pipes a month later on February 27.
Another delay would present itself, but since March 20th Campbell has suited up in 7 of the last 9 games for the Leafs.
That stretch would be part of a season that has now been record setting for Jack.
Thanks to a 31 save performance last night (on 33 shots) against Montreal, Campbell set a new Leafs franchise record by starting the season with ten consecutive victories.
In doing so he passed former Leafs Felix Potvin, Jacques Plante and John Ross in the team record books while joining Carey Price as the only other goalie in the NHL history to start a year in such manner.
Life in the Capital of Ontario, and with the ‘Buds’ has presented an opportunity for the former Greyhound to write a script of a Cinderella story.
His 10-0-0-0 record is accompanied by a 1.57 GAA and 0.944 SV%.
There’s still sixteen games left on the NHL regular season but with ten wins personally, and the Leafs sitting at the top of the North Division, Campbell is painting a feel-good story for us all to enjoy.
RELATED MEDIA/LINKS:
NHL Profile | OHL Profile
• Campbell’s joy in record night for Leafs a reminder of human side of game
• Campbell sets franchise mark with 10th straight for Leafs
• PERFECT 10: Campbell sets franchise record as Maple Leafs outlast Habs
HOUNDS HITS:
Appeared in 34 games for the Hounds recorded an overall record of 15-12-2-3 to go along with a 3.58 GAA and 0.892 SV% … Recorded a shutout on November 25, 2011 against Saginaw … Made 48 saves on 51 shots in win @ London November 11, 2011 … Registered his first-career win as a Greyhound in his debut on November 4, 2011 @ KGN (making 27 saves on 28 shots) … Acquired by Greyhounds on November 2, 2011