BOUNCING BACK
James Reimer has recovered from a series of bad breaks. Other Leafs are hoping for good bounces of their own,
There was some good-natured talk that when the bad bounces stopped going in off James Reimer maybe some good ones would start going in for Nazem Kadri.
Well, the Maple Leafs goaltender seems to have put an end to allowing those weird goals that can be both puzzling and deflating. But Kadri, now working on 12 games without a goal, can’t buy a lucky bounce.
Still, it hasn’t stopped him from trying. Kadri had seven shots Thursday night in Toronto’s 2-1 shootout win over Nashville. He has taken 70 shots overall, third in the NHL, but has just one goal to show for it. The company he’s keeping in the shots category — Alex Ovechkin (79), Taylor Hall (73), Tyler Seguin (68) — is pretty impressive. But they’re all scoring regularly. As far as Leafs coach Mike Babcock is concerned, Kadri shouldn’t change a thing and just keep shooting.
“That’s what I’d do if I was him,” said Babcock. “He hit the post again. He’s getting chance after chance. His line’s dominating most nights . . . good shifts.
“His numbers are going to be the same at the end of the year. When he scores, it will take some weight off him. He’s going to score, he’s too good not to.”
Kadri hasn’t produced a single point in five games, though his linemates have added some offence. James van Riemsdyk has a goal and two assists in those five games; Leo Komarov has a goal and an assist.
The offence that has sprung the Leafs on this modest run of 10 points in six games largely has come from defencemen and further down the lineup. And as spartan as the offence has been — seven regulation goals in four games — the team would not on a 2-0-2 run if not for Reimer.
“We’re getting some saves,” said Babcock. “Early, that was a tough area for us.”
Reimer has shone in the absence of Jonathan Bernier. He has started six consecutive games, going 3-1-2 with a 1.78 goals-against average and a .943 save percentage. It’s his longest stretch of consecutive starts since the 2013 playoffs.
“He’s done a real good job for us,” Babcock said. “He’s played quite a few in a row. I thought he was solid. He’s confident. The puck’s not coming off him . . . he’s got better rebound control.”
With the Leafs playing back-toback games this weekend — Saturday at home to Vancouver and Sunday in New York against the Rangers — Reimer’s consecutive start streak is bound to end.
But he has offered a strong argument he should be the No. 1 goalie along with evidence he performs better the more he plays.
“When you’re feeling good, you’re not feeling about other options,” said Reimer. “You’re zoned in on the shooter and you let the puck tell you where it’s going to go.
“I feel good about our team. I’m trying to do my part and that’s just one-20th. The guys are working hard. When your teammates are battling, you just do your job and good things happen.”
For now, Kadri takes his inspiration from Reimer, who never let himself get down even when the world around him was crumbling.
“He’s passionate about the game,” Kadri said. “It’s definitely motivating as a player. He sticks with it. Timely saves as well. There are some opportunities for them to go ahead in the game. He’s keeping it a one-goal game in order to give us a chance to come back.”
The Leafs take some positives from the belief they are in games, with Reimer keeping games close while the team learns Babcock’s system. They are 2-2-4 in one-goal games (including 1-0-4 in overtime/shootouts).
“In order for us to be a successful team, we have to be able to win onegoal games,” said Kadri. “As players, you wish it was 10-9. It’s not going to happen that way. It’s going to be tighter games. With how the goaltenders are playing nowadays, chances are hard to come by. Goals are hard to come by. When you get up one or down one, you have to make sure you keep the pressure on and find a way.
“We could have easily been (down) 5-2 (and) out of the game. Fact is, we weren’t able to close games like we are now. Our structure has been a whole lot better.
“We’re starting to understand what we’re supposed to do. Guys aren’t thinking too much. It’s becoming second nature. React first. It’s an instinctive game.”