Felix Potvin knows all about the pressures of goaltending in the playoffs in Toronto, and the former Maple Leafs goalie believes James Reimer did well in his first Stanley Cup playoffs experience.
The Leafs lost a heartbreaking seven-game series to the Boston Bruins after battling back from a deficit of three games to one, only to blow a 4-1 lead in the third period of Game 7 Monday.
With a .923 save percentage after facing a league-high 272 shots in the first round – an average of 38.8 shots against per game – Reimer garnered high praise, but his play was still questioned after allowing four goals in a 17-minute span in Game 7.
Like many hockey fans, Potvin was surprised the Bruins managed their epic comeback, but said the experience gained is a good thing for Reimer going forward.
“Honestly I think it was painful to watch, but I think in the meantime he took a tremendous step in these playoffs,” Potvin told Jeff Blair on Sportsnet 590 The Fan Tuesday.
“As far as Reimer’s performance, I think he played very well. I’m glad the Leafs gave him the chance.”
Potvin believes Reimer bounced back very strong after allowing four goals in Game 1 and was impressed with his performance in the series, especially in games 5 and 6.
“As far as (Game 7) goes, you just look at it like it was almost meant to happen. It was almost unbelievable to watch,” said Potvin, who in 1993 came within one win of advancing to the Stanley Cup finals with the Leafs.
On the technical side of things, Potvin, like many, thinks Reimer could improve his rebound control, especially on his glove-hand side, and believes these are things he’ll work on in the off-season while putting the memory of Game 7 behind him.
“I’ve seen him play sporadically this year… I don’t know if maybe he’s dropping down too quick and then he has to react,” Potvin explained. “He knows what he has to work on.
“For the first part of the summer he’ll think about it for a few days, (but) once the year starts again and training camp comes around you’re just so happy to be in your routine… and things go from there.”
The 2013 campaign was rampant with speculation and rumours surrounding the Leafs’ starting goalie situation.
Despite Reimer and backup Ben Scrivens performing admirably throughout the regular season, there were on several occasions reports the Leafs attempted to acquire Roberto Luongo from the Vancouver Canucks and Miikka Kiprusoff of the Calgary Flames.
Only time will tell whether or not Reimer’s performance in the series against Boston was enough to quell Leafs management’s search for experience in the crease.
