Brophy on Leafs: Right time for Reimer
Posted January 13, 2012 11:46 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Exit The Monster. Enter, er, re-enter James Reimer.
Or so you would think. Following a 3-2 loss to the Sabres in Buffalo Friday night, Leafs coach Ron Wilson didn’t immediately tip his hand as to who would start in goal against the visiting New York Rangers at Air Canada Centre Saturday night.
“It would be unfair for you guys (the media) to speculate who it will be,” Wilson said.
How weird for Wilson to challenge the media after a loss.
Count on Reimer starting.
After an impressive run, during which time Jonas Gustavsson won four games in a row, with two shutouts, the coaching staff now believes it has two legitimate starters. That, in itself, gives credence to Wilson’s stated plan to ‘go with the hot hand.’ Gustavsson lost a game; Reimer should come in.
To Gustavsson’s credit, he didn’t give up the crease without a battle.
Both Gustavsson and the Leafs looked quite shaky early in the game, falling behind 2-0 after just 3:53, but the goalie recovered nicely and gave his team a chance to win. That’s what skaters claim they want from their goalie, right? Gustavsson wound up playing as well – or better – than he has throughout his team’s winning streak. It was not his fault that the Maple Leafs lost. Right down to the final seconds of the game he made stop after stop when the team bent, before ultimately folding.
In the end, a loss is a loss. You might even make the case that, after anointing Reimer the team’s No. 1 goalie at the start of the year, despite his relative inexperience, the Leafs have been looking for the first opportunity to get him back in the net. Somehow you have to think the Leafs believe Reimer is the guy who will get them to the playoffs.
A goaltending competition, in a season in which the team seems to be taking a step forward, might be the right formula for Toronto making it to the post-season. In the past not having a serious No. 1 goalie, never mind two guys challenging for the position, was the Leafs undoing.
Clearly the coaching staff had lost confidence in Gustavsson early in the year, if they ever had any in the first place, and as much as the Leafs wanted to get Reimer going upon his return from injury, they were reluctant to put the third-year NHLer from Sweden in net. The Leafs even tried to squeeze Ben Scrivens into the crease.
But when Reimer couldn’t produce victories upon his return, for the first time in his brief NHL career, Gustavsson has stepped up to the plate. Reimer and Gustavsson are equals for now. Assuming Leafs GM Brian Burke doesn’t make a move to acquire an established and experienced stopper leading up the playoffs, the friendly competition between the two may drive the team closer to the post-season. And it may push each of them to a higher level of play.
Reimer has done a splendid job of saying all the right things at the right time. But with Gustavsson nipping at his heels, this is really the first time he has been challenged for his job. And what a challenge it is.
All Reimer has to do to win his job back is to beat the best team in the NHL – the New York Rangers. The Leafs have enjoyed success against the Rangers this season, but the challenge of playing a game on the road one night and then facing a team that is waiting for them at home the next is tough.
Gustavsson has done a fine job holding down the fort. Depending on how Reimer reacts to getting a chance to play, The Monster may have finally taken the first step toward being a No. 1 goalie in Toronto. But if Reimer beats the Rangers and takes over the net, it will be a monstrous step in terms of the Leafs making the playoffs.
It will give Leafs GM Brian Burke one less thing to worry about as he ponders moves to improve his squad.
