Reimer stays hot in goal
Backup has two shutouts in his last four starts
Panthers goaltender James Reimer has been one of the team’s streakiest players this season, oscillating between capable starter and career backup through his 40 games played this year.
He has flashed brilliance in four shutouts and in spearheading the Panthers’ first extended winning streak of the season. But then he has struggled in allowing at least four goals in 12 different games, including cold streaks in October and February.
It looks like Reimer may be peaking at the right time for the Panthers.
During a 3-0 win over the New York Islanders on Monday night, Reimer recorded 32 saves to notch his second shutout in his past four starts, all wins. Over that span, he’s stopped 137 of 141 shots on goal, posting an incredible .972 save percentage.
“It’s just one of those things where you’re trying to take it in small increments and kind of just get lost in the game,” Reimer told reporters in New York on Monday night. “It’s fun game out there, when you’re seeing the puck and your team’s working this hard. Hopefully, we can just keep at it as a team.”
Reimer earned his second consecutive start in goal in place of Roberto Luongo, who was nursing a minor upper-body injury. Panthers coach Bob Boughner said Luongo would be ready to play today against Toronto. But Luongo’s potential return only slightly diminishes Reimer’s role down the stretch.
Florida plays three sets of back-to-backs in its final eight games, meaning Reimer will likely play at least three games. This season, Reimer filled in as Luongo missed six games in October and November due to a hand injury and another
27 after a groin injury in December.
“He’s been amazing,” Boughner said. “Obviously, with the goaltending situation this year and Louie being banged up a little bit, long-term injuries earlier in the season, Reims has answered the bell every time. This is a part of the season where you need guys stepping up. He’s been one of our guys that have stepped up for us.”
The Panthers are one of just two teams this season with two goalies with at least 25 starts and a .914 save percentage. Luongo has a .927 save percentage in 29 starts. Reimer has a .914 save percentage in 38 starts.
The Panthers entered Tuesday one point behind New Jersey for the second wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference with one game in hand on the Devils. Florida plays eight more games in the regular season.
Since the All-Star break, Luongo, Reimer and Harri Sateri have combined for a 20-6-1 record, .928 save percentage, 2.37 goals against average and four shutouts.
Banking rest
The Panthers have been saving their legs recently and have not held a practice since March 14. From March 8 to April 8, no NHL team plays more than Florida’s 18 games and Boughner is trying to keep his team fresh.
Florida had off-days on Sunday and Tuesday and also skipped morning skate on Monday in Brooklyn.
“We’re just trying to reserve as much as we can and get the emotions up when it’s game time and trying to relax when it’s not,” Boughner said. “It’s going to be a big push for us in the next two weeks. We need every ounce of energy we can have.”
Panthers captain Derek MacKenzie added: “There’s lot of hockey ahead of us. We need our legs for the kind of systems we play.”