The saying “whatever you can do, I can do better” may be appropriate for the goaltending tandem of the Toronto Maple Leafs, as newcomer Jonathan Bernier sparkled in a 3-1 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers at the Wells Fargo Center Wednesday night.
Bernier made 31 saves in his Leafs debut, allowing only a first period power play goal to Brayden Schenn.
Dave Bolland scored two goals and Phil Kessel scored his first of the season on his 26th birthday for Toronto, who move to 2-0 on the season.
Steve Mason made 22 saves for Philadelphia in the loss.
The Leafs appeared groggy in the opening twenty minutes, as the Flyers pelted Bernier with 15 shots in his debut performance, courtesy of three power-plays and the Blue and White’s inability to gain control of the puck Flyers, but the former LA Kings first round pick impressed with a lightning quick glove hand and slick lateral movement in the crease.
The Flyers finally broke through on the power play with just seven seconds remaining, as Schenn converted a centering pass from Vincent Lecavalier.
Toronto slowly began to even the territorial battle in the middle frame, outshooting Philadelphia 9-7 and tying the game at 17:06 as Kessel fired a quick shot from point blank range past Mason.
The second period was a rough one for veteran defenseman Paul Ranger, who took two minor penalties and knocked the feet out from under the Flyers Wayne Simmonds in the waning seconds. Simmonds was awarded a penalty shot, but Bernier snuffed out his attempt with relative ease.
The Leafs took the lead early in the third, as Joffrey Lupul’s centering pass from the side of the net found the stick of a cutting Bolland, who directed the puck past Mason’s blocker for the winner. The 27-year-old Mimico, ON native scored his second goal of the game in the final minute to ice the game away.
Defenseman Mark Fraser did not return to the game after being slammed into the boards by Jay Rosehill.
Besides Bernier, the Toronto penalty killers were a big factor in the win, as they killed off six of seven Philadelphia man advantage opportunities. The Leafs were second in the NHL in penalty killing percentage and have continued where they left off, as they have killed 10 of 11 penalties so far this season.
Toronto has a couple days off before their home opener at the Air Canada Center Saturday night and the question that will be pondered from now until then is who will be start in goal.
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