Leafs lose Bernier to injury; can they keep fading playoff hopes alive with Reimer?
The Toronto Maple Leafs' worst nightmare came true Thursday when No. 1 goaltender Jonathan Bernier was injured late in their crucial game against the Boston Bruins.
Bernier had to be helped off the ice and couldn't put pressure on his left leg when Leafs defenseman Paul Ranger knocked Bruins center Patrice Bergeron on top of him with 11:42 remaining in the third.
James Reimer replaced Bernier, who suddenly looks less than likely to be around for the team's remaining four regular-season games. Reimer surrendered the tying goal before hanging on to record a 4-3 overtime win for the Leafs. But with Reimer's recent struggles and the prevailing sentiment he won't be back in Toronto next season, there's more than a little irony the Leafs' season could rest in his hands.
Just when you thought it couldn't be more painful to be a Leafs fan...