Leafs’ Reimer gears up for Lundqvist showdown
TORONTO — James Reimer is gearing up for what could be one of those shining moments Monday when the Leafs entertain the Rangers on home ice.
One of the constantly revolving stories with the team lately has been Joffrey Lupul’s injury — and there was good news on that front Sunday — but Reimer has become pivotal to the club’s success this season. Monday’s game puts him in a special matchup with Rangers’ superstar goalie Henrik Lundqvist, and those nightly battles with all-star, playoff experienced goalies will come in rapid succession for Reimer if the Leafs enter the playoffs as expected.
First Lupul: the Leafs said their injured star had a “good day” Sunday in an optional practice, which was his first skate with the team since suffering a head injury in Thursday’s loss to the Flyers.
Lupul looked fine in 20 minutes of skating and light drills. He’d taken a turn on the Rapid Shot machine prior to practice and will give it a go all over again at the morning skate Monday, if there are no hangover complications from Sunday’s workout.
Lupul took a nasty hit to the head and shoulder area and missed Saturday’s win in New Jersey. There is no timetable for his return, and given the pace of his workout Sunday, he could be back by the weekend at the earliest.
That would mean the Leafs would be without their star winger for a home-and-home series with the resurgent Rangers, which, like all games at this point in the season, take on huge implications in the playoff standings.
Reimer had been brilliant in the Leafs 2-1win over New Jersey Saturday, turning in the kind of backbone performance playoff teams expect of goalies when they’re on the road and get outshot by desperate teams needing points to stay alive in the playoff race.
That’s the kind of performance the Rangers have been fortunate to have — and expect — over the past several seasons with Lundqvist between their pipes.
Lundqvist, who may also be one of the classiest players in the game, and is certainly one of its best ambassadors, turned in a 48 save effort in the Rangers 4-1win over Carolina on the weekend.
There was just “clutch” written all over that effort: he’d made 14 saves in the first period, and 21 in the third, as the Hurricanes dominated the Rangers and did everything possible to restore their fading playoff hopes — except beat Lundqvist.
“That’s the best I’ve seen him play since I’ve been here,” Rangers coach John Tortorella said in a telling statement.
Reimer’s tape from Saturday night was similar, if not as numerically dramatic: Toronto was outshot 28-18, 14-8 in the first, and 10-5 in the third. Without Reimer’s performance, they lose that game despite a tremendous rebound defensively from the Flyers game.
Entering Monday’s game, Reimer is not on par with Lundqvist’s legend or experience, but he has shown his counterpart’s ability to either steal a game, or keep his team in a game until they find a way to win.
Lundqvist has been delivering those performances his entire career; Reimer’s acquaintance with that level of play is in its infancy. Experience has been a storyline attached to Reimer of late; he and many of the younger players on the Leafs roster have no playoff experience.
“Experience is experience, you can’t argue with that,” Reimer said.
“But at the same time the youthful exuberance we bring to our game’s every night, you can’t disregard that either.”