Leafs face tough choices with injured players
Players needed now for crucial Canadiens game
TORONTO — They are still hurting. David Bolland admitted he still has trouble doing crossovers on an ankle that was severely injured in November. They are still healing. Goaltender Jonathan Bernier said the groin he strained a week ago is probably going to bother him for another seven days.
But as one reporter asked, only half-jokingly, does playing the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday speed up the recovery process? In this case, the answer is probably yes.
If it were any other game, Bolland and Bernier most likely would sit out. But this is not any other game. Inside the dressing room, the Toronto Maple Leafs are calling the Canadiens game the biggest of the season. It’s not far from the truth.
After losing their last three games, Toronto needs this one, as well as Sunday’s game against the New Jersey Devils. The Leafs are only three points behind Montreal for third place in the Atlantic Division. The Leafs hold one of the wild-card positions, but have just a three-point lead on the Detroit Red Wings, who have played two fewer games.
With 11 games remaining in the regular season, Toronto has to treat Saturday night’s game — and the ones that follow — like it’s the playoffs. And in the playoffs, you need your best players in the lineup, whether they are 100 per cent or playing through pain.
“They’re definitely tougher to win,” head coach Randy Carlyle said of games at this time of year. “But that’s the recipe you’re dealt when you’re in a push to make the playoffs and you’re in a push to get your team situated for a playoff position and home ice.”
Bernier’s addition almost goes without saying. The Leafs lost just once in regulation in the 13 games prior to his injury. Since then, the team has dropped three straight and created a minor maelstrom because of Carlyle’s post-game comments this week regarding goaltender James Reimer.
Carlyle said the decision on whether Bolland and Bernier are in the lineup Saturday night would be left up to the players. That is another way of saying they have the green light and are expected to put their bodies in gear.
“Bringing a guy like Bolland back into the lineup, that’s a veteran presence and the exact type of player you need at this time of year,” Leafs winger Joffrey Lupul said.
Bolland, who has been skating with the team since before the Olympic break, practised on a line with David Clarkson and Mason Raymond for the first time in three weeks.
Despite what he said about his ability to perform crossovers, he looked fine.
Bernier shared the net with third-string goalie Drew MacIntyre, but did not show any signs his groin was limiting his mobility.
Are they 100 per cent healthy? No, but few are at this point in the season.
“The thing is I don’t think you’re ever 100 per cent,” Bernier said, when asked about his injury.
“I think with every injury you want to be cautious. But like I said earlier, you can never be 100 per cent. So this injury might last for a few days after I play my first game, but as long as it doesn’t get worse ...”
Captain Dion Phaneuf has been missing practices with regularity because of socalled maintenance days and several others are disguising minor injuries.
That leaves the question to both Bolland and Bernier: Would they help or hurt the team by playing on Saturday?
With the real possibility that Toronto might fall out of a playoff spot unless the team can stop this current slide, Bolland and Bernier also cannot afford to wait too long before returning.