NEWARK (Nov. 2) - Losing goalie James Reimer to a head/neck injury in the first month of the season has become a blessing-in-disguise for the Toronto Maple Leafs... particularly for Jonas Gustavsson and head coach Ron Wilson.
Though being without Reimer wasn't part of any scheme or aspiration, it has enabled Gustavsson to play a succession of games for the first time since Dec. 16-30 of last season, when he appeared in six consecutive matches. A disastrous start in New York on Jan. 20 (Leafs lost, 7-0, to the Rangers) all but spelled the end for Gustavsson in 2010-11, and he may have been glued to the bench early this season if not for the injury sustained by Reimer in Montreal nearly two weeks ago. Though he's been less-than spectacular, the "Monster" has done enough to at least re-established himself with Wilson as the club's No. 2 goalie. Whether or not Gustavsson's 3-3 record subbing for Reimer has increased his chance to play more often will be heavily contingent on tonight's performance here in Newark, as Reimer is likely to return for tomorrow night's road trip finale at Columbus.
The Maple Leafs and Devils meet at the Prudential Center at 7:30 p.m. and Gustavsson will be staring down-ice at the NHL's all-time wins and shut-outs leader, as Martin Brodeur gets back after a six-game absence with a shoulder ailment. More importantly for Gustavsson is avoiding what has become his Achilles heel as a pro: allowing a soft goal at a critical juncture of the game. Such a circumstance proved the decisive moment in a 3-2 loss at Ottawa on Sunday - the Monster whiffing on a routine, 30-foot volley from the right-wing boards by Senators rookie Kaspars Daugavins, whose first NHL tally couldn't prevent a return, on Monday, to Binghampton of the AHL. Another untimely gaffe tonight - combined with a strong re-emergence by Reimer in Columbus - could set back Gustavsson, who wasn't far ahead of Ben Scrivens in the organizational depth chart before Brian Gionta collided with Reimer at the Bell Centre.
It was a beautiful morning here in the Garden State, as my photos below attest:
Though being without Reimer wasn't part of any scheme or aspiration, it has enabled Gustavsson to play a succession of games for the first time since Dec. 16-30 of last season, when he appeared in six consecutive matches. A disastrous start in New York on Jan. 20 (Leafs lost, 7-0, to the Rangers) all but spelled the end for Gustavsson in 2010-11, and he may have been glued to the bench early this season if not for the injury sustained by Reimer in Montreal nearly two weeks ago. Though he's been less-than spectacular, the "Monster" has done enough to at least re-established himself with Wilson as the club's No. 2 goalie. Whether or not Gustavsson's 3-3 record subbing for Reimer has increased his chance to play more often will be heavily contingent on tonight's performance here in Newark, as Reimer is likely to return for tomorrow night's road trip finale at Columbus.
The Maple Leafs and Devils meet at the Prudential Center at 7:30 p.m. and Gustavsson will be staring down-ice at the NHL's all-time wins and shut-outs leader, as Martin Brodeur gets back after a six-game absence with a shoulder ailment. More importantly for Gustavsson is avoiding what has become his Achilles heel as a pro: allowing a soft goal at a critical juncture of the game. Such a circumstance proved the decisive moment in a 3-2 loss at Ottawa on Sunday - the Monster whiffing on a routine, 30-foot volley from the right-wing boards by Senators rookie Kaspars Daugavins, whose first NHL tally couldn't prevent a return, on Monday, to Binghampton of the AHL. Another untimely gaffe tonight - combined with a strong re-emergence by Reimer in Columbus - could set back Gustavsson, who wasn't far ahead of Ben Scrivens in the organizational depth chart before Brian Gionta collided with Reimer at the Bell Centre.
It was a beautiful morning here in the Garden State, as my photos below attest:
THE PRUDENTIAL CENTER (ABOVE) IS ONE OF THE NHL's NEWEST AND NICEST ARENAS.
DOWNTOWN NEWARK IS ALSO HOME TO A CLUSTER OF INSURANCE BUILDINGS WITH ART-DECO DESIGN (ABOVE AND BELOW).
THE FACADE OF THE PRUDENTIAL CENTER IS ACTUALLY AN ENORMOUS BILLBOARD THAT ILLUMINATES THE DOWNTOWN CORE AT NIGHT.
THE LEAFS BEGIN THEIR DAY-OF-GAME SKATE AT THE PRUDENTIAL CENTER (ABOVE) JUST AFTER 11:30 THIS MORNING.
COACH RON WILSON SAYS HE EXPECTS JAMES REIMER TO RETURN FROM A HEAD/NECK INJURY IN COLUMBUS TOMORROW NIGHT, AND TO BACK UP JONAS GUSTAVSSON AGAINST THE DEVILS HERE TONIGHT. REIMER GOT THE "FEEL" OF THE GOAL-CREASE (ABOVE) WITH TEAMMATE BEN SCRIVENS THIS MORNING; THEN TOOK A SUCCESSION OF SHOTS (BELOW) UNDER THE WATCHFUL EYE OF CAPTAIN DION PHANEUF.
VETERAN TSN CAMERAMAN TIM MOSES (ABOVE) VIDEOTAPES ACTION FROM THE LEAFS MORNING SKATE HERE TODAY.
THE DEVILS GLORIED PAST IS PROMINENTLY DISPLAYED ABOVE ONE END OF THE PRUDENTIAL CENTER.
THE ARENA HERE IN NEWARK HAS TWO LEVELS OF SEATING, SEPARATED BY A DUAL-RING OF PRIVATE LUXURY SUITES. IT'S A TERRIFIC PLACE TO WATCH HOCKEY. THE MOST EXPENSIVE PEWS NEAR ICE LEVEL ARE WIDE AND COMFORTABLE (BELOW) WITH THE HOCKEY CLUB'S INSIGNIA EMBLAZONED ON THE BACK-REST.
LEAF PLAYERS GATHER AROUND ASSISTANT COACHES SCOTT GORDON AND GREG CRONIN (ABOVE) DURING TODAY'S MORNING SKATE.
RON WILSON JOKES WITH REPORTERS ABOUT A SOMEWHAT FUTILE ATTEMPT TO GROW HAIR BENEATH HIS NOSE IN HONOR OF THE "MOVEMBER" PROSTATE-CANCER AWARENESS DRIVE. "WHAT MOUSTACHE?" WILSON RESPONDED WHEN ASKED ABOUT HIS BARELY-VISIBLE PATCH OF FUZZ.
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