Reimer shuts down Stamkos, Lightning in Leafsâ second straight win
Toronto Maple Leafs fans, waiting forever it seems to show some love to one of their hockey heroes, turned to an old faithful Tuesday night.
James Reimer put in arguably his best performance of the season, stonewalling the playoff-bound Tampa Bay Lightning 3-1 and earning roars of fan approval not often heard for a Toronto goalie, or any other Leaf of late.
In fact, it was a bounty night for Leaf lovers, with Morgan Rielly scoring his eighth goal of the season and putting on another display of the skating and rush skills that should make him a candidate for team leadership in the near future.
Toronto won its second consecutive game, delivering more of the structured hockey that has been in coach Peter Horachek’s messages for months, but it was Reimer who played the biggest role.
The Lightning, who clinched a playoff berth on the weekend and are battling with Montreal and the Rangers for first overall in the Eastern Conference, outshot the Leafs 41-28.
The Leafs goalie followed up his win over Ottawa Saturday with the kind of mistake-free goaltending needed to beat an elite team. Reimer made large saves on Vladislav Mamenstnikov and Ondrej Palat during Leafs’ penalty kills, and with the home side trying desperately to exit the second period with a 2-1 lead.
Even when the visitors beat him — with Ryan Callaghan scoring off a rebound — it came after Reimer made a monster save; he shot across the crease with a strong push off from his right skate, and made a highlight splits save on Palat.
Reimer, with a solid all-round effort in front of him, shut down Steven Stamkos and snapped his points streak against the Leafs at six games.
Toronto got goals from Nazem Kadri and David Booth, and defenceman TJ Brennan, seemingly an interchangeable part with the Leafs and Marlies, picked up an assist for his first point with the parent club.
This game went up and down the ice with the Leafs playing physical, forecheck-first hockey. The fans certainly liked what they saw, though the thrill has long since been extinguished through three months of confounding hockey that bore little to no resemblance to the product seen in the past two.
Mostly, fans are at the “too little, too late” junction of the season. And while that’s the immediate reaction, it is somewhat sad to see the Leafs finally engaged like a playoff team, showing they are capable of structured, responsible play.
For now, grinder-type players getting prime-time minutes are showcasing themselves for all they’re worth. The line of Trevor Smith, Richard Panik, and Joffrey Lupul was a true force Tuesday and their example was followed by every line.
Rielly and defensive partner Jake Gardiner, like Reimer, had arguably their best game together this season. Rielly also celebrated a special moment — his boyhood hockey friend, Slater Koekkoek, made his NHL debut with the Lightning.
The two date back to high school hockey at Notre Dame; and Koekkoek was drafted 10th overall in 2012, five picks after Rielly. Koekkoek, from Winchester, Ont., has had a tough road to the NHL, undergoing three shoulder surgeries since being drafted.
