After another poor performance in goal from Jonathan Bernier on Saturday and with James Reimer unable to practice, head coach Mike Babcock turns to rookie goaltender Garret Sparks as the Toronto Maple Leafs take on the Edmonton Oilers at Air Canada Center on Monday.
The Elmhurst, IL native was called up on Saturday after backstopping the Toronto Marlies during a 10-0-1 November winning streak. A sparkling 8-2-1 record, earning AHL Player of the Week honors and making his first NHL start is a far cry from where the 22-year-old was one year ago, playing for the Orlando Solar Bears (Leafs ECHL affiliate).
“(I was) on a bus somewhere in the Eastern part of the US, on a 30 day road trip.” Sparks said after the morning skate. “30 days, 12 games, you have a duffle bag and you don’t get to go home.”
After being the primary understudy to Drew MacIntyre with the Marlies in 2014, Sparks suffered an injury in training camp and lost his spot to Christopher Gibson and Antoine Bibeau. He played all but two of his 38 games with the Solar Bears last season (21-7-3, 2.34 GAA, .936 Sv %), but Leafs management still held Sparks in high regard and put him back into the AHL mix as Gibson was deemed expendable and sent to New York in the deal for Michael Grabner.
“He’s got an opportunity, like lots of kids have had before him, so it’s up to (Sparks)to grab it.” Babcock said. “He’s got the best save percentage in the American Hockey League, he’s winning all the time down there.”
While Sparks starting is deserved based on his performance thus far, it is also a commentary of the lack of confidence the Leafs coach has in Bernier, who allowed four goals on his first 12 shots in a 4-2 loss to the Washington Capitals.
“I know (Bernier) hasn’t (been through anything like this) because I just talked to him.” Babcock said regarding what the future holds for the club’s goaltending. “(Bernier)’s got to rebound, but at what expense? We’ve got to figure that out. I just know that Sparks gets an opportunity today.”
Reimer took to the ice briefly prior to the morning skate on Monday, but his availability is still in question for the start of the Leafs three-game road trip in Winnipeg on Wednesday. Recent speculation that the Leafs could place Bernier on waivers to send the 27-year-old to the AHL to regain his confidence will not happen until Reimer returns to the lineup and if Sparks proves that he is a viable option as a NHL backup.
Winger Joffrey Lupul will miss his first game of the season due to an undisclosed injury that has plagued the 32-year-old winger for some time. Lupul (tied with Leo Komarov for the club lead with eight goals) is being replaced by Daniel Winnik, who was scratched the last two games after a drop in performance following a knee injury in Washington.
Edmonton (8-14-2) is in 30th place in NHL standings and has gone 1-2-1 on their five-game eastern road swing. After losing in overtime to the Red Wings on Friday, the Oilers won 3-2 in a shootout in Pittsburgh on Saturday.
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Listen to my weekly conversation with CTV London’s Norman James, as we discuss Jonathan Bernier, Garret Sparks and the happenings in Leaf Land.
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