Without Jonathan Bernier and James Reimer this season, the Toronto Maple Leafs would likely be battling the Edmonton Oilers and the Buffalo Sabres for last place in the NHL.
Both goalies have won games single-handedly this season. A chronic issue for the Leafs has been being badly outshot, and at times, they have been outplayed in games with both of these netminders bailing the team out.
What is clear, is that if Randy Carlyle has a master plan, he's not interested in sharing it with the media. That is his right, and the logic of not wanting to share too much with the media, and therefore your opponents, is a sound stance.
Neither Bernier nor Reimer seems upset about the battle and the fact that a de facto starter has not been named. There have been no public outbursts and no media coverage of any friction between the two young goaltenders.
I would argue that the Leafs have benefited from the healthy competition as both goalies are obviously striving to do their best and understand that, if they falter, the other one is likely to start the next game.
Without a third NHL-calibre netminde ...
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Article written by James Onusko
Has Jonathan Bernier Won the Toronto Maple Leafs’ 2013-14 Goalie Battle?
February 2nd, 2014 by James Onusko Leave a reply »
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