Peter Horachek is going with James Reimer in net as the Maple Leafs look to avoid sole ownership of the longest losing streak in the Leafs’ near-100 year history.
What’s really dejecting is that it’s debatable where this latest tirefire stands on the spectrum of Leafs lowlights in the just the past four seasons. The Game 7 collapse was also record-setting, for largest lead forfeited in the third period of a game 7, but starting the year 19-9-3 through 31 games before setting a franchise record for consecutive losses might be the worst of the worse; even more accentuated and dramatic than the 2011-12 and 2013-14 collapses, to be sure. Anyway, that’s something to debate amongst yourselves and your therapists.
The decision to go with Reimer in in net is interesting in that sense that Horachek has never shied away from calling Bernier his number one or starting him in every non-back-to-back situation (and even playing him for both games in a b2b on one occasion). In the past week and a bit, Horachek has gone with Reimer twice in non back to back situations. Fact is, in the Leafs‘ current predicament it’s ridiculous to ride one goaltender when he’s done the Leafs no favours in getting his goal-starved team out of an epic loss parade. Really, the organization should take these final 30 games and do a healthy amount of rotating to get some more evaluation time in before the off-season, when Bernier is up for a contract and a decision is going to have to finally be made in regards to Reimer.
A game against the Devils on the best of days is a snorefest, so with both teams well out of the playoff race it’s recommended all non-insomniacs find something else to do with their Friday night.
Maple Leafs Projected Lines
James van Riemsdyk – Tyler Bozak – Phil Kessel
Joffrey Lupul – Mike Santorelli – Daniel Winnik
David Booth – Nazem Kadri – Richard Panik
Leo Komarov – Peter Holland – David Clarkson
Morgan Rielly – Cody Franson
Korbinian Holzer – Stephane Robidas
Jake Gardiner – Roman Polak
James Reimer
Jonathan Bernier
Scratched: Josh Leivo, Trevor Smith
Injured: Dion Phaneuf (hand)
New Jersey Devils Projected Lines
Dainius Zubrus – Mike Cammalleri – Jaromir Jagr
Patrik Elias – Travis Zajac – Martin Havlat
Adam Henrique – Scott Gomez – Steve Bernier
Tuomo Ruutu – Jacob Josefson – Jordin Tootoo
Andy Greene – Adam Larsson
Jon Merrill – Marek Zidlicky
Mark Fraser – Peter Harrold
Cory Schneider
Keith Kinkaid
Scratched: Eric Gelinas, Michael Ryder
Injured: Stephen Gionta (fractured hand), Damon Severson (fractured left ankle), Bryce Salvador (back), Ryane Clowe (suspected concussion)
