Team Records: Leafs – 3-1-0 vs. Predators – 1-2-0
Jonathan Bernier’s recent play, career record (7-1) against Nashville and familiarity with the opponent has gotten him the nod against the Predators tonight despite a loss on Tuesday. The loss might have given Carlyle reason enough to go back to Reimer, but he seems to be sticking with the hot hand (Bernier was excellent despite the loss).
We’ll see how Reimer responds when he gets his next chance, but I’ve always thought he needs to get a run of starts to stay on top of his game. If true, it could be his undoing in the goalie battle. Ideally, one goalie will get hot when the other cools off and the Leafs will reap the net result of great goaltending all season, but we’ll have to see how it actually plays out.
Don’t take what I just wrote the wrong way, either – There is a lot of sound reasons why Bernier should play tonight. He’s played well, knows Nashville shooters far better than Reimer, and has had great success against the Preds. Just a thought on how this goalie thing might play out.
The Leafs have continued to be the anti-advanced stats team in the early going, winning games they were out Corsi‘d in and losing to the Avalanche after technically outchancing them on Tuesday (there was some pretty desperate low percentage shooting from the Leafs, I thought). Overall, they have not been at their best yet and it would be nice to see them play like it for the first time this season.
Maple Leafs Lines vs Nashville Predators
Toronto Maple Leafs vs Nashville Predators Lineups, Oct. 10th, 2013Left Wing | Center | Right Wing |
---|---|---|
JvR | Bozak | Kessel |
Raymond | Bolland | Leivo |
Lupul | Kadri | Broll |
Ashton | McClement | Orr |
Left Defense | Right Defense | |
Phaneuf | Gunnarsson | |
Rielly | Franson | |
Gardiner | Ranger | |
Goalies | ||
Bernier | ||
Reimer |