Bernier’s return all about winning back coach’s confidence

Leafs goalie had star run with AHL’s Marlies

TORONTO • When he stepped onto the ice for the first time since completing his 10- day conditioning assignment, Jonathan Bernier was quickly greeted by goaltending coach Steve Briere, who gave him a friendly hug.

The two hadn’ t worked together for a couple of weeks, parting ways on December 2. It was the morning of the Leafs road game against the Winnipeg Jets, when management informed Bernier of their decision send him down to the Marlies in an effort to help repair the struggling goaltender’s confidence.

In four starts with the minor league team, Bernier excelled, posting a 3- 0-1 record with a 1.25 goals-against average, a . 948 save percentage and three shutouts.

It looked very much like a National Hockey League goaltender playing in the American Hockey League.

“I think I enjoyed being down there. I just want to bring that happiness to get on the ice,” Bernier said. “We’re pretty fortunate to be in this league. Sometimes you go down there and you realize how lucky you are to play in the NHL.”

Prior to his assignment, Bernier struggled with the Maple Leafs.

Beginning the 2015-16 season as the Leafs’ starting netminder, his inability to make saves early in games — almost routinely allowing bad goals — forced head coach Mike Babcock to give the net to James Reimer.

When Reimer went down with a groin injury during a practice in late November, Bernier continued to struggle, forcing the immediate promotion of Garret Sparks from the Marlies.

When Bernier met t he media on Monday, he was all smiles. His perspective and attitude appear to have changed. He doesn’t look like the goaltender who hasn’t posted a win with the Maple Leafs in nine tries this season.

“I guess the first thing I want to see is I want you to go down there and treat the other people right and show leadership,” Babcock said of Bernier. “Go do that, go find your game and then come up and play good.”

In his first game with the Marlies, Bernier was mobbed by his teammates following a 4- 0 win over the Rochester Americans. Bernier made 22 saves in the win. In two road trips, he spent several hours on the team bus, spending hours at a time with teammates all over upstate New York. It was a much different lifestyle than the five- star hotels and charter flights he was used to with the Maple Leafs.

“It is definitely more casual and there was a lot less pressure,” Bernier said about his time with the Marlies. “But at the end of the day, when you come back up, you just have to say to yourself that it’s just a hockey game. I think you have to bring the same attitude.”

Instead of getting instruction f rom Briere, Bernier worked with Marlies goaltending coach Piero Greco. The two had previously only worked together during training camps.

“He told me to just go out there and play,” said Bernier of Greco. “He didn’t say much, we just worked on angles and that’s the game. If you’re set and your angles are good, most of the time you are going to stop those shooters.”

Bernier will be tested immediately, getting the nod to start in goal Tuesday, when the Leafs take on the Tampa Bay Lightning. Since Bernier was sent down, Sparks has performed well in his four starts with the Maple Leafs, winning in three of his four starts. The pressure cooker is bubbling and the room for error for Bernier is slim to none.

If the same flaws in his game reappear Tuesday night, Bernier’s immediate future could be in question. He’s been granted one more opportunity from his coach who didn’t have a lot of confidence in him two weeks ago. Bernier needs a good performance. More important than a win for the team, Bernier needs to win back his coach.

Reimer out indefinitely

James Reimer skated prior to practice but was unable to join his teammates for Monday’s preparatory session. Reimer has made just one start since initially injuring his groin in a practice Nov. 24.

Reimer missed 10 days with the ailment before making 27 saves in a 1- 0 loss to the Minnesota Wild on Dec. 3.

His early return has put pressure on the Maple Leafs’ new sports science team to make sure Reimer is fully healed before making a return.

“We have all of these doctors and we go through the scientific approach to do everything. The approach we used last time didn’t work good enough so I guarantee you it’s taking more time this time,” said Babcock. “Why? Because if you’re the guy in charge, you’re scared to death to put him out there when he tells you he’s ready to go.”

Reimer is 7- 4- 4 in 16 games while posting a .936 save percentage.