Maple Leafs goalie debate back in focus
At times during Toronto’s 4-1 win on Saturday night against Pittsburgh, James Reimer’s head was spinning around like Linda Blair’s in The Exorcist.
Trying to track the Penguins, most notably Sidney Crosby, Evegni Malkin and a few other creative forces, is hard on a goalie’s neck.
But Reimer made 37 saves, while 14 Penguin pucks missed the mark. Reimer survived at least one more episode with a cement glove to improve his record to 4-0-2 against the powerful Pens.
“They are arguably the best players in the world and they bring it every time they come to play,” Reimer said. “I’m just lucky enough that my teammates step up and play big games. I don’t know if it has as much to do with me as the guys in front of me working their butts off.”
Indeed, the Leafs demonstrated some quick sticks to thwart shots or break up odd-man rushes.
Once more, a stellar game by one of the Leafs’ net duo has created debate on who is No. 1 or at least who starts the first of a three-game road trip on Tuesday in Edmonton. With back-to-backs, it’s likely Jonathan Bernier would go Wednesday in Calgary if coach Randy Carlyle sticks with Reimer. The better of the two would be in line to play in Vancouver on Saturday.
http://www.torontosun.com/2013/10/27/maple-leafs-goalie-debate-back-in-focus