The Maple Leafs have recalled goalie Christopher Gibson from the Toronto Marlies of the American Hockey League due to a sudden illness to goaltender Jonathan Bernier prior to the club returning to action against the Florida Panthers in Sunrise, FL on Sunday afternoon.
Bernier will miss Sunday’s game with a "flu-like illness" and according to the club's press release, there is no sign that the illness is connected to the mumps epidemic spreading throughout the league "at this time".
The 22-year-old former Los Angeles Kings second round pick has a 2.52 GAA, .919 save percentage, 6-9-2 record and one shutout in 17 games with the Leafs AHL affiliate this season. Gibson was in goal for both Marlies wins this weekend, a 4-0 shutout of the Hamilton Bulldogs at Air Canada Center on Boxing Day and a 3-2 road win in Rochester on Saturday night.
James Reimer will replace Bernier as the starter against the Panthers, who trail the Leafs by only three points in the Eastern Conference standings. A well-rested Reimer could be in line for both starts in Florida(Toronto plays the Lightning in Tampa on Monday night) rather than going with the inexperienced Gibson in his first NHL start.
In other roster news, the Leafs have placed forward Leo Komarov on the seven-day injured reserve to open up a roster spot for Gibson. Komarov suffered a concussion at the hands of Washington's Alex Ovechkin on November 29.
It is strange that Komarov has not been placed on LTIR, even though he qualifies since he has been out of action for more than 10 games or 24 days to qualify. Long-term injured reserve would provide Toronto with some cap relief from the feisty Finn's $2.9 Million salary.
Komarov practiced with his teammates on a limited basis on Saturday, but the winger is not expected to be activated before the end of the current seven-game road swing that will carry the Leafs into 2015.
Toronto faces a significant challenge over the next seven days, with five road games against Florida, Tampa, Boston, Minnesota and Winnipeg and two sets of back-to-back games.
The Leafs on the strength of a stellar 43-save performance by Bernier ended a three-game losing streak with a 4-0 victory in Dallas on Tuesday and hope to continue their success against the defensively adept Panthers, who have allowed just 82 goals against this season.
The game has a few significant milestones for members of the Leafs. Defenseman Jake Gardiner plays his 200th NHL game, Phil Kessel plays in his 400th consecutive game and head coach Randy Carlyle coaches his 700th NHL game, but the win will be the most important achievement, which has proved to be difficult task in Sunrise recently.
Toronto lost both contests last season and have won only three times at the BB&T Center since 2008.
Roberto Luongo is expected to get the start for Florida in goal.
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Leafs World Junior Update:
Nylander(Sweden) GP:2, G:2, A:0, PTS:2 Gauthier(Canada) GP:2, G:0, A:0, PTS:0 Valiev(Russia) GP:1, G:0, A:1, PTS: 1
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