Neither Leaf goaltender has firm grip on starting job
Bernier appears to have edge, but Reimer has shown better during pre-season play
Mike Babcock can talk about structure. Players can talk about learning to be hard on the puck. The Maple Leafs can all buy into a new system. Somebody can emerge magically to score all the goals that Phil Kessel once did.
It will all go for naught if the Toronto Maple Leafs can’t get any goaltending.
Jonathan Bernier and James Reimer are back with the Maple Leafs again this year, each professing how they want to be the team’s No. 1 goalie.
Babcock has said he wants a No. 1 goalie — the only time he’ll talk to his goalie is to inform him when he’s not playing. Babcock doesn’t want the headaches and sleepless nights that come from not having a No. 1 goalie.
He might want to get out the Advil. So far through training camp, it’s a pick ’em.
“Just one more run at it to get ready,” said Reimer. “It’s always good to get as much playing time as you can, but one more game would be nice to iron out the last of the kinks that are left in the system.”
Reimer and Bernier are each expected to get one of the starts — on Friday in Detroit, and Saturday at home to the Red Wings — in lastchance to auditions for the job.
“You want to get your game-shape in,” said Bernier. “Saturday that’s the game you really got to put your foot down and focus and make sure you’re ready for the first game.”
Bernier has been the No. 1 goalie in Toronto for the past two seasons — though not by that wide a margin — and he has a contract through the 2016-17 season, so the smart money is on him starting the season Wednesday at home to Montreal. But there are no guarantees.
Reimer is a free agent at the end of the season and may have more to play for.
So far through camp, Reimer (01-0) has been a tad better. He has played127 minutes over three games, allowing five goals. That’s good for a 2.36 goals-against average and a .917 save percentage.
“You always want to have some shutouts, but I feel pretty good,” said Reimer. “I feel like I’m at my spot when I need to.”
Bernier has played 149 minutes over three games, allowing nine goals (3.62 goals-against average, .885 save percentage).
“You’re building on playing more games and more minutes and as much as you work in the summer and do goalie stuff, a game situation is completely different,” said Bernier. “You see a lot of traffic, tips and things like that in the summer you don’t see. You want to make sure you’re in the right spot when the real game comes up.”
But, of course, training camp numbers can be meaningless. It’s a small sample size, often playing behind teammates destined for the minors or junior.
Outside of a solid performance by Reimer in a loss to Montreal, neither has particularly shone.
Neither seems particularly worried, as both say they’re using training camp to get into game shape.
“You try to look at it objectively,” said Reimer. “I made a couple of mistakes, most didn’t end up in goals, but I know the mistakes I made. So you try to iron them out.”