Sparks quickly settling into Leafs’ crease
Babcock praises Bernier for back-to-back shutouts while on conditioning stint
Fresh off the Maple Leafs’ first fight of the season on Saturday, forward Nazem Kadri was a no-show at practice Monday.
Leafs coach Mike Babcock knew what the first question was going to be, so when he stepped into the media scrum at the MasterCard Centre, he pre-empted reporters with a quick explanation.
“Kadri phoned in (Sunday) night with stomach flu . . . so that’s why he wasn’t out today,” Babcock said. “He’ll be ready to go (Tuesday).”
The New Jersey Devils are in town for what will be the first game between the teams since Lou Lamoriello jumped ship and joined the Leafs as general manager this past summer.
The Leafs see this game as a chance to lay it all out there, because after this game they have a week off. Their next game is Dec. 15, when the Tampa Bay Lightning come to town for the second game of a four-game home stand.
Babcock thought the Leafs played with more speed offensively against the St. Louis Blues in the 4-1 victory on Saturday.
And the coach has been seeing some “swagger” from goaltender Garret Sparks but also can’t help but see what Jonathan Bernier is doing with the Marlies.
Bernier, whose confidence and game fell apart with the Leafs, has registered back-to-back shutouts since being sent to the AHL affiliate for a 10-day conditioning stint.
Bernier’s two wins came in Rochester Friday night and over Manitoba at the ACC on Sunday. Babcock said he texted Bernier after both shutout performances.
“He’s got himself two wins and two shutouts, so good for him,” the Leafs coach said. “He’ll get two more next weekend, two more opportunities and that’s positive.”
This will be his fourth game as a starter and his first home game since Nov. 30 when he became the first goalie in franchise history to get a shutout in his first NHL start, beating the Oilers 3-0.
In his second game, Sparks allowed all six goals in a 6-1loss to the Winnipeg Jets and he was shaky in the early going on Saturday in St. Louis.
Babcock said a lot of goalies who lose their composure early can’t get it back, but Sparks did.
“I thought he was nervous in the St. Louis game early, and then really settled in,” the Leaf coach said. “He’s played three games and he’s got two wins. Good for him.”
How Sparks responds against the Devils will be interesting from a mental standpoint.
“Obviously, everybody who gets here (the NHL) has a certain physical side, but the mental side is what separates you,” Babcock said.
“He seems to have a swagger about himself, feels good about himself and has earned the right to feel good about himself.”
Babcock hasn’t spent a lot of time talking to Sparks, except to say “hello, how are you doing?”
Sparks was the first player on the ice Monday, taking full advantage of this opportunity.
“Being able to practise with the Leaf players is a luxury to me,” said For every home game this season, the Toronto Maple Leafs Alumni Association is donating a pair of tickets, a Leafs jersey, food and refreshments to members of the Canadian Armed Forces, who will be honoured at each game. the 22-year-old, who was the 190th pick overall by the Leafs in 2011.
“It’s taking advantage of the resources here,” Sparks added. “It’s showing up early and getting the work done that you need done.”
Sparks says it’s nice that this success has happened quickly, but he’s not taking this ride for granted.
“I know goaltending is a long road, and there are a lot of years of development that go into being an NHL goalie,” he said. “I’m not going to pretend that I get to skip everything. There’s a lot of work that I need to do still to be the goalie that I ultimately want to be.”