Jonathan Bernier seeks his first win of the season against his former team tonight as the Maple Leafs take on the Pacific Division-leading Los Angeles Kings (7 p.m., CBC).
In a defence of Bernier a week or so ago, ESPN insider Pierre Lebrun mentioned Bernier still has big fans in the Kings front office, including goalie coach Bill Ranford.
I traded emails with Bill Ranford earlier this week. I was curious to see what he thought about all this. When the Kings traded Bernier to Toronto, I can tell you that Bill Ranford and Dean Lombardi and a number of people in that Kings front office — who I think you guys believe have a clue about how to win — they were sick to their stomach trading Jonathan Bernier. To hear Ranford this week – he was careful in what he said because it isn’t his player anymore – he was surprised at what is going on and he absolutely believes Bernier will resurface and bounce back. Listen, they honestly believed that Bernier would be a number-one goalie. The only reason Dean Lombardi traded him is because he promised Jonathan Bernier he would because they couldn’t keep him under the cap with Jonathan Quick signed long term.
Needless to say, a win tonight for Bernier would be a extra sweet given the opponent, and could be exactly what he needs to kickstart the process of getting his woebegone season back on the rails.
It won’t come easy though, as the Kings are the Kings of old again after a 2014-15 season gone south. They had no shortage of critics for their offseason moves, but the early returns are positive, as Milan Lucic has fit in well, currently third on the team in scoring with 21 points.
Los Angeles is a middling offensive team again so far this season, but are swallowing teams up defensively in classic Kings fashion, backstopped by Jonathan Quick and Jhonas Enroth (when called upon) who have given them consistent .920+ goaltending. They’re the top possession team by CF%, as they have been — remarkably — since 2011-12.
The projected lines have Peter Holland centering Daniel Winnik and Joffrey Lupul, but Grabner – Holland – Winnik looked especially good when united following the Nick Spaling injury early in Thursday’s game. Wouldn’t be surprising to see them together at some point during the game.
In other lineup changes, Martin Marincin returns to the fold in the place of Frank Corrado, who played just 21 minutes total over his first pair of games this season on Tuesday and Thursday.
Los Angeles Kings Projected Lines
Milan Lucic – Anze Kopitar – Marian Gaborik
Tanner Pearson – Jeff Carter – Tyler Toffoli
Michael Mersch – Trevor Lewis – Dustin Brown
Andy Andreoff – Nick Shore – Jordan Nolan
Brayden McNabb – Drew Doughty
Jake Muzzin – Alec Martinez
Christian Ehrhoff – Jamie McBain
Jonathan Quick
Jhonas Enroth
Injured: Dwight King (lower body), Kyle Clifford (upper body), Matt Greene (upper body)
Scratched: Derek Forbort, Jordan Weal
Toronto Maple Leafs Projected Lines
James van Riemsdyk – Tyler Bozak – Leo Komarov
Michael Grabner – Nazem Kadri – PA Parenteau
Daniel Winnik – Peter Holland – Joffrey Lupul
Shawn Matthias – Byron Froese – Brad Boyes
Jake Gardiner – Dion Phaneuf
Matt Hunwick – Morgan Rielly
Martin Marincin – Roman Polak
Jonathan Bernier
Antoine Bibeau
Injured: Stephane Robidas (groin), James Reimer (lower body), Nick Spaling (upper body), Garret Sparks (lower body)
Scratched: Frank Corrado
