The Toronto Maple Leafs are in a position to qualify for the postseason for the time being, but they might not be there much longer if their starting goaltender can't find his groove.

Frederik Andersen was the netminder of record in an overtime victory against the Winnipeg Jets on Tuesday night, but he wasn't on his game from start to finish.

"Early (on), we were good and (Andersen) wasn't and then he made some good saves down the stretch and we won the game," Leafs head coach Mike Babcock told reporters including The Athletic's James Mirtle afterwards.

"Some nights, Freddy picks us up," Babcock added. "Tonight, we picked him up."

It wasn't just the one game. Andersen has struggled to find his rhythm over the last month or so.

Since notching his second straight shutout on Jan. 25, Andersen is 3-3-2 with a 3.67 GAA and a .878 save percentage. He allowed at least four goals in five of those nine games, at least five goals in three of them, and he gave up six in a loss the New York Islanders on Feb. 6.

Here's how his basic numbers this season compare to his performance in his three previous campaigns with the Anaheim Ducks:

Sure, there are other issues. Toronto is the NHL's seventh-youngest team, and while it is one of the league's most exciting squads, that youth often makes things a little more difficult for Andersen.

The Leafs have the best power play in the league and boast the sixth-most productive offense in terms of goals per game (3.14), but they also allow the third-most shots per contest in all situations (32.5), and that's a big reason they're giving up the eighth-most goals per game (2.9).

Not all of that is on Andersen, but the Leafs need him to be better than he's been lately if they hope to avoid being knocked out of the playoff picture for good.

Tuesday's win bumped their postseason chances up to 64.5 percent, according to Sports Club Stats, but their grip on a potential playoff berth is by no means secure.

The Florida Panthers now sit one point behind them with a game in hand, and both the Boston Bruins and the Islanders are also a point back of the Leafs with equally resurgent clubs since making in-season coaching changes.

It won't get any easier for Andersen and the Leafs, either. They host the New York Rangers on Thursday, the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday, then embark on a three-game Pacific road swing that begins against the San Jose Sharks on Tuesday.

Leafs management has a well documented long-term vision and this season's results aren't of the utmost importance, but the No. 1 goaltender needs to rediscover his form if the club's short-term goal involves giving this exciting, young group its first taste of playoff experience.

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