Leafs goaltender Jonathan Bernier did not return for the second period of the game against the Los Angeles Kings on Thursday after suffering a reported lower body injury.
Bernier allowed two goals on 10 shots in the first period against his former club, but made an impressive right pad stop on the Kings Anzi Kopitar. Leafs broadcaster and former goaltender Jim Ralph indicated on the club's radio broadcast that it is likely that Bernier strained himself making the save.
James Reimer replaced Bernier at the start of the second period, while Bernier remained on the bench as the backup.
According to the Toronto Sun's Terry Koshan, Bernier will be checked out medically on Friday. The extent of his injury is unknown according to Leafs head coach Randy Carlyle, but the goaltender was feeling some discomfort before the game.
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The Toronto Maple Leafs have their third difficult challenge on the California leg of their 10 day road trip, as they take on the red-hot Los Angeles Kings at Staples Center on Thursday night. The Leafs have split the first two games of their longest road trip of the season, a 3-1 win over Anaheim on Monday and a 6-2 loss to San Jose on Tuesday and face perhaps the hottest team in the NHL, as the Kings have won every game since the Olympic break and eight games in a row going back to February 6.
The contest undoubtedly will have special meaning for Leafs starter Jonathan Bernier, who served a five-year apprenticeship in Los Angeles behind former Conn Smythe Trophy winner Jonathan Quick before being traded to Toronto in June 2013 for Matt Frattin, Ben Scrivens and a 2nd round pick.
“To be back where I started my career, it’s going to be a lot of fun. I’m excited to play that game, that’s for sure.… Bernier said on Tuesday. When asked whether he had spoken with any of his former teammates, the Leafs goaltender quipped “I’m going to try to go out to dinner with a few guys probably on Wednesday night and try to let them know that they have to shoot wide.…
The trade has definitely ended up in the Leafs favor, as Bernier has put up 25 wins, a 2.59 GAA and a .926 save percentage in his first season in Toronto, while Scrivens was moved to Edmonton for a draft pick in January and Frattin was included in the package sent to Columbus to acquire sniper Marian Gaborik at the trade deadline.
Kings GM Dean Lombardi knew that he was bound to not get equal value in a trade for Bernier, but promised the 2006 first round pick he would move him after the 2013 season.
"I don’t think any general manager wants to be in that position where you have to trade a player and he’s a really good player," Lombardi said to ESPN’s Pierre LeBrun last October. Dave Nonis was really the only one who was seriously interested in him. Everyone else was just tire-kicking. I was shocked at the lack of real interest. He had proven himself again last season. The other reason I think people overlook Bernier is because he is small; they overlook his hockey sense, which is his best asset.…
James van Riemsdyk will be in the lineup and says he has no ill effects after getting accidentally walloped by teammate Dion Phaneuf early in the third period on Tuesday. Defenseman Cody Franson was a late scratch on Tuesday due to stomach flu but is improved enough that he will be a game time decision on Thursday. Center Peter Holland has been stricken by the same bug and stayed at the club’s hotel in Los Angeles and received intravenous fluids, so his status is in question for a game that will likely be a tight checking and defensive minded affair.
“(The Kings are a) big, heavy team. Grinding team. Real stingy on the defensive side of it, they don’t give you a lot.… Leafs coach Randy Carlyle said after the morning skate. “It’s going to be a man’s game. There’s not a lot of space out on the ice and that’s the way they play it. They play it tight to the vest, they have five people around the puck and they are doing very well.…
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The Leafs received some help on the scoreboard from the Boston Bruins on Wednesday, who won a decisive 4-1 victory over Montreal at the Bell Center. Toronto leads the Habs by one point in the Atlantic Division standings but have now played an equal amount of games(67), with a three point lead over Tampa Bay, who have two games in hand.
Toronto has been able to take advantage of the Canadiens injury woes, who have been without goaltender Carey Price since before the Olympics and lost defenseman Josh Gorges with a hand injury and the Lightning’s five game losing streak in the wake of the departure of team captain Martin St. Louis.
For the Leafs to have a good chance to advance in the playoffs, they must finish in the top three of their division and not in a wild card spot, which would mean an opening round match against division leaders Boston or Pittsburgh. If the Leafs maintain their current place in the standing, they could draw more favorable matchups against Tampa Bay or Montreal and could actually earn home ice advantage for the first time since 2004.
Earning at least 5 of a possible 10 points on their current road trip will go a long way in making this goal possible.
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