Reimer a bright light in Leafs’ week that was

Goaltender helps Leafs earn at least one point in three of four games

If there is a light at the end of the tunnel for the Maple Leafs, it might be the play of James Reimer.

With Jonathan Bernier hurt, Reimer made his fourth start in a row on Saturday night, and earned the Leafs at least a point for the third time in the those four games.

Sure, the game ended in a loss — what Leaf game doesn’t these days? — but Reimer comported himself well, turning aside 29 of 31shots. And he seems to get betting stronger the more he plays. There were no bad goals against in Saturday’s 3-2 shootout loss to Washington, and his save percentage over his last four games is .939. In fact, he made a number of spectacular saves — in the third period and with Toronto killing penalties — to give the Leafs a chance to win the game. He showed no ill effects of having played four games in six nights, including back-to-back overtime affairs Friday and Saturday.

“Any time you can play behind a team that’s playing this well, you get into a rhythm,” Reimer said. “Good things start happening when everybody plays the right way.”

As bad as the Leafs’ overall record looks — 2-8-4, tied for last in the league with Columbus — Reimer’s record looks OK. He’s 2-2-3.

“I sure think he’s been good,” head coach Mike Babcock said. “He’s given us a chance. All you have to look at is what he’s done for us. He gets us points. So he gets to play.”

The Leafs took Sunday off. They’ll practise Monday in Toronto before heading out for games in Dallas on Tuesday and Nashville on Thursday to complete a three-game road trip.

The last time Reimer was this busy was in March 2014. He played in seven games in a row March 11-23, starting the last five. The Leafs were in third place in the Eastern Conference, and Bernier — who’d carried the load most of that season — got hurt in a road game March 13 in Los Angeles. Reimer finished that game spectacularly. But in the five straight starts that followed, he went 0-5-0. The Leafs tumbled to oblivion and really haven’t recovered since.

In some ways, it’s remarkable Reimer is still a Leaf, having lost the confidence of both management and the previous coaching staff.

Maybe it’s the power of positive thinking, but Reimer always maintains a bright outlook. “Everyone is working hard and having fun,” he said. “When you work hard and compete, it’s contagious . . . Right now we’re playing great hockey.”