Leafs Postgame: AHL call-up Bernier falls just short of first win

For the first time in a week, the Leafs saw themselves playing actual hockey games against actual NHL teams. In a nine-goal affair, the Torotonians came out on the losing side of this one, falling 5-4 in overtime to the Stamka Bay L91ghtning. 

Jonathan Bernier has been one of the best AHL goalies this season, but it’s unfortunate that his success hasn’t been able to translate to the top level. Bernier registered just 22 saves on 27 shots, still trailing Garret Sparks and 62 other NHL goaltenders in the win column this year. 

Bernier was in tough from the get-go, giving up a goal to Nikita Kucherov 2:59 into the first period.

To his credit, the newly-promoted netminder shut the door for much of the next two periods, as the Leafs went 3-1 up on goals from Tyler Bozak (his 100th in his career), James van Riemsdyk and a third one on a sweet shorthanded rush from whiz kid Morgan Rielly shortly after one of those penalty kills that just lights up the crowd. Not a huge believer in momentum or causality of these two relatively unrelated events, but Rielly definitely seized the opportunity in a game-changing moment.

A 3-1 lead into the third would’ve been a nice cushion for the young prospect Bernier to have, but he fell victim to a shot by former Leaf Anton Stralman with just 36 seconds left in the frame. The Lightining would strike quickly (never heard that one before) with a pair of goals in a 36 second span six minutes into the period to equalize and then  regain the lead, and the Leafs saw themselves gasping for points in a game they appeared in control in. Daniel Winnik eventually tied it up after Roman Polak tossed a puck into a sea off bodies in front of the net and the puck somehow found its way in, and despite chances at both ends, the game headed for overtime as the hotshot Bernier had a chance for redemption of his earlier woes.

Unfortunately, the perils of 3-on-3 overtime proved too tough for our first-time hero in this story, with Vlad Namestikov (still think that sound like a videogame name) potting the winner.

In all seriousness, this was a game that Jonathan Bernier really could have used the victory in. Despite a trio of strong conditioning games at the AHL level, he isn’t the same goaltender he was in the past- and this funk at the top level is concerning, to say the least. Perhaps he’s just one game away from ending it, but tonight was not that night.

Lightning captain and media darling Steven Stamkos was held off the scoresheet, limited to just a single shot on the night., while putting up just a 36% Corsi at even strength. In most other games, that wouldn’t be a story, but tonight, it’s obviously part of the narrative. Despitethe fact no one really know where Stamkos will play in his future, it’s a fun storyline, for sure. It’s fun to imagine a player of Stamkos’ calibre suiting up for Toronto, regardless of the cap implications, his potential (or current?) decline, his actual views on the subject. The bottom line is, it’s fun to live in that world, and it would be a major shakeup if such a deal were to occur. We’re going to milk the udders until there’s no story left, or until Justin tells us to stop. 

Stamkos didn’t will this team to win to win tonight, but he did come away with the two points. That’s what real leaders do.

Back to the fun aspect, this was a pretty fun game to watch, with multiple lead changes and some great individual efforts. The Leafs fired 37 pucks on net, and probably played well enough to win on most nights, but a costly stretch in the third period likely cost them the extra point.  

Tyler Bozak earns it for his pair of assists and his reaching of a pair of milestones. 100 goals isn’t an easy thing to do at any level, and it’s even harder when you’re Tyler Bozak.

The Leafs play the Sharks Thursday night at 7:30 p.m. I hear Joe Thornton’s eyeing a return back to play in his home country…