There is no way for Jonathan Bernier to know if the onslaught will continue.
But as the goaltender enters his second season with the Toronto Maple Leafs he is vowing to alter his preparation just in case.
“I think I learned a lot from last year,” Bernier said during a recent conversation. “You’ve got to know when to actually take some time off and know when to work hard. I think maybe at first in practice I was burning myself (out) a little too much. That’s something you learn from experience.
“Obviously, with having that many shots you want to pace yourself. You still want to stay sharp, so you’ve got to find a way to stay ready for games but at the same time you (need) your rest.”
Rest was not a luxury that either he or counterpart James Reimer were afforded last season. Playing behind the most porous defensive team in the league made for a busy workload, especially with a condensed schedule because of the Sochi Olympics.
Bernier faced an average of 34.8 shots per 60 minutes and made a career-high 55 appearances before having his season ended prematurely by a MCL sprain in his left knee. He also had a nerve removed with sports hernia surgery over the summer so questions about his health and playing time will remain.
The last month has seen him go through three or four on-ice sessions per week and he says that physically he feels “normal” entering training camp.
This marks the start of a new chapter in Bernier’s career and in his life.
Now 26, and having recently celebrated the birth of a baby boy, he is about to start a season as the presumed No. 1 goaltender for the first time. There will undoubtedly be talk about him splitting starts with Reimer — coach Randy Carlyle is fond of calling them 1A and 1B — but the job is definitely Bernier’s to lose.
He knows this and is up for the challenge.
“It’s kind of like a different mindset than the past years,” said Bernier. “Obviously, I’ve done it in the (AHL), done it in junior, done it all my life, but I haven’t done it at this level. But to me you’re always competing against the other guy. When you play at this level there’s always someone pushing you.
“You don’t want to feel too comfortable I guess.”
Bernier’s goaltending was one of the few highlights for Toronto last season.
Acquired in a trade from Los Angeles to push Reimer, he wound up seizing the starter’s job by December. He finished with a .923 save percentage — eighth best in the league — and was arguably the main reason the Leafs stayed in the playoff hunt as long as they did despite allowing so many shots against.
It left many to wonder if Reimer might be dealt away over the summer, but Bernier wasn’t the least bit surprised when general manager Dave Nonis instead elected to sign him to an extension.
“I’m not because if I remember my days in L.A., (GM) Dean (Lombardi) would always tell me ‘Why would I trade you? We have two good goalies,”‘ said Bernier. “And that’s the same scenario as in Toronto. If the cap allows you to actually have two good goalies then why not? I think that’s the smartest way to do it.
“I think James is a great goalie and I’m happy because then we can push each other to get better.”
That will mean a fair bit of healthy competition, yes, but there is also a mutual respect.
As their teammates report back to work this week with an eye on improving the team’s overall defensive play, the goaltenders have to prepare for the worst. They might get shelled again this season.
No matter how it plays out Bernier believes that he’ll be better prepared to handle what’s thrown at him.
“I’d love to play every game,” he said. “That’s up to the coach to decide. … I think this year I’m going to get more rest and I think that’s going to play in my favour.”