I wasn’t going to post anything on the Leaf-Penguins game. We at Last Word on Sports typically don’t do game recaps; that sort of stuff can be seen anywhere, and chances are, by the time you read, it you’ve already seen all the post-game shows anyway. And Kate Bierness is prettier than my ability to turn a phrase will ever be.
That said, having just witnessed what was probably the funnest hockey game we have seen from the Toronto Leafs this season, there’s a story to be told.
And that story starts and ends with one Jonathan Bernier, the Leafs’ beleaguered goaltender who found himself with a post-yuletide gift from the hockey gods wrapped in the form of a late-in-the-day change of plans after intended starter James Reimer was shelved due to “stiffness.”
After watching six goals go either right by or right through him across 40 minutes at the ACC, the general assumption was that Bernier would be taking an extended pine-ride, but the Leafs’ tender made the most of his opportunity to show the hockey world that he’s not quite the bust some (many) have had him pegged as.
Jonathan Bernier’s Bounce-back Masterpiece
Reimer came in off the bench in the third to relieve a struggling Bernier Tuesday night against the New York Islanders, however, the groin issue that has plagued him throughout December will keep him sidelined into the new year. And with that news, Bernier proceeded to manhandle the Penguins’ top performers with a gutsy showing that had former teammate Phil Kessel reeling in disbelief.
Kessel, among other Penguins, had numerous opportunities to sink the Leafs if not for the heroics of Bernier, who made 39 saves on the night, many of the spectacular variety.
The entire team appeared ready and willing to rally behind their starting goalie, blocking 18 shots and breaking up scoring chances; most notably Matt Hunwick’s stick-sweep to knock the puck out of Sidney Crosby’s reach as he stared at an open net with Bernier in no position to make a save.
It was a good old-fashioned goalie battle with rookie Matt Murray tending the cage for Pittsburgh, proving to be every bit Bernier’s equal. Murray carried his crew into overtime, making 34 saves in regulation before Peter Holland and P.A. Parenteau found the twine in the shootout, earning himself second-star honours for his effort.
What I admire most about Bernier right now is what I admire most about head coach Mike Babcock’s Maple Leafs: The ability to park a bad goal, period or game, and come back ready to compete hard. As bad as Bernier was Tuesday night, those playing in front of him hardly came ready to battle either, with Islander forwards waltzing right past Leaf defenders virtually unmolested. Despite playing back-to-back games, the entire Leafs team showed a level of both compete and composure that allowed them to flush the events of yesterday, and get back to work. That is perhaps the most telling indicator of Babcock’s impact in his short tenure as head coach, as previous incarnations of the blue and white would find it next to impossible to show the mental fortitude to fight back after a disappointing performance.
That may be the true litmus test for the Leafs going forward. Coach Babcock gets that not every game is going to be a Rembrandt or a Monet and sometimes it’s paint-by-numbers, and you stick to your structure and get the job done regardless of esthetics. But the game against the Penguins was beautiful. Not from a coach’s perspective, as there were far too many penalties, odd man rushes and breakaways for either Babcock or Pens coach Mike Sullivan to be thrilled, but from the hockey fan’s armchair point-of-view, this was an absolute masterpiece of hockey entertainment. It had the intensity and passion of a playoff game as old rivalries reignited, particularly between Dion Phaneuf and Evgeni Malkin, as well as spirited tussles involving Leo Komarov following a boarding call against Kris Letang, and a net-front scrum between Phaneuf and Crosby.
Media to Babcock: Who starts next game? Babcock to media: Whoever the heck that was who played for us tonight.
— Mike Brophy (@HockeyBroph) December 31, 2015
According to Mike Brophy, Babcock announced the starting goalie on January 2nd versus the St. Louis Blues will be “whoever the heck that was that played for us tonight.” That would be Bernier, who has gone 4-2 since returning, and assures he a has “no confidence issues.”
Happy New Year Leaf Nation, let’s catch up after the January 2nd game …
Main Photo:
