TORONTO - It might be a bit premature to label a game in the first week of January as a must-win. But for several Toronto Maple Leafs - and the team as a whole - Tuesday night's game against the New York Islanders could correctly be identified as a must-perform.
Following an embarrassing 7-1 loss to the New York Rangers on Saturday, head coach Randy Carlyle was expecting a better, more complete effort from the team. But he was also demanding some improved individual performances as well.
Nazem Kadri, who had been threatened with third- or fourth-line duty because of a lack of production and effort, needed to show he deserved to remain on the second line. And goaltender Jonathan Bernier, who had been unofficially handed the reigns as the No. 1 goalie and was making his sixth straight start, had to rebound after being pulled on Saturday.
In the case of Kadri, who picked up two assists and was an offensive threat Tuesday, the leash was extended. With Bernier, it was likely the opposite.
The Leafs goalie, who allowed four goals on 24 shots in a 5-3 loss, suffered through another poor outing. On one goal, he practically put the puck in his own net. On another, he let in a shot from outside the blue line. And though he was not pulled, he finished the game with a .833 save percentage.
The frustrating thing was that Bernier's performance did not reflect Toronto's overall performance. While the Leafs have relied too heavily on their goaltending to make up for their defensive play, the team actually played one of its more disciplined games.
The Leafs outshot the Islanders 26-24 and got the start they were looking for against New York, which was coming off a 7-3 win at home against Dallas on Monday.
Toronto got the early 1-0 lead five minutes into the game when Tyler Bozak redirected a shot from defenceman Paul Ranger. The goal stretched Bozak's point streak to eight games, with the first-line centre recording three goals and eight assists in that span.
But with 44 seconds remaining in the period, Bernier allowed a deflating goal from Kyle Okposo, who slipped a wrist shot through traffic to tie the game. That goal was not as bad as what came next. At 3:06 in the second period, Bernier strayed out of his net to play the puck but it dribbled into the no-play zone behind the goal line. Bernier left the puck but the Islanders' Michael Grabner was right there to pick it up and swoop around to beat Bernier to the far post.
Carlyle could have pulled Bernier then, and few would have questioned it. Instead, the Leafs head coach let the goalie try to work through it.
About five minutes later, the Leafs tied the game thanks to a couple of plays by Kadri. First, he drew a hooking penalty in the offensive zone. And he picked up an assist on the ensuing power play on a goal from Mason Raymond.
In the third period, Joffrey Lupul took a questionable goalie interference penalty and Frans Nielsen took advantage by scoring on the power play to put the Islanders ahead 3-2. A few minutes later, Bernier allowed another goal he should have stopped. Islanders defenceman Calvin De Haan blasted a shot from the outside the blue line that changed direction after hitting Dion Phaneuf's stick.
The Leafs eventually responded, with Kadri picking up another assist on a wrist shot that redirected off Lupul's body. But the Islanders' Cal Clutterbuck scored an empty-net goal to put the game out of reach.
The Leafs play back-to-back games on the road against the Carolina Hurricanes on Thursday and Washington Capitals on Friday, so both Bernier and James Reimer will probably be called upon.
Who gets the start after that will one again depend on performance.
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