The Toronto Maple Leafs will be forced to fight for the playoff lives without starting goaltender Jonathan Bernier. An MRI today confirmed that the goalie has a strained MCL and will be out for at least three weeks.
Bernier was injured in the third period of last night’s game against the Boston Bruins. Bruins centre Patrice Bergeron was pushed by Leafs defenceman Paul Ranger and fell on top of Bernier. Bernier stayed down on the ice and had to be replaced by backup James Reimer. Reimer was able to help the Leafs to a 4-3 overtime win to keep the team’s playoff hopes alive.
“We were just kind of spinning around, pushing each other in front and he was looking for position,” Ranger explained to media after the game. “I was pushing him around, next thing you know, I just pushed him and he was on top of (Jonathan Bernier).”
The Leafs looked like a surefire playoff team until a recent eight game losing streak derailed all of that. As Jonathan Bernier was out with a groin injury, Reimer started six of those eight games and received blame from fans and media for the skid. Now the goaltender who led the Leafs to their only playoff appearance in nine years will likely start the last four games of the season and try to get the Leafs back.
It will be a tough road as the Leafs currently sit one point behind the Columbus Blue Jackets, and two points behind the Detroit Red Wings for the final two playoff spots. However while the Leafs only have four games remaining, both the Blue Jackets and Red Wings have six games remaining on their schedule.
Jonathan Bernier is in his first season in Toronto after an offseason trade with the Los Angeles Kings. He is 26-19-7 with a 2.69 GAA, .923 Save% and one shutout this year.
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