There is another side to the fuzzy, feel-good story of Garret Sparks‘ historic shutout in his Toronto Maple Leafs debut.
Sparks accomplished in one try what his backup on Monday night, the beleaguered Jonathan Bernier, has not been able to do since March 3: get a win in regulation time.
Manny Legace, a former goaltender under Mike Babcock and current goalie consultant for the Columbus Blue Jackets, joined Dean Blundell & Co. Tuesday to discuss what it would feel like to be in Bernier’s skates right now, watching second- and third-string netminders outplay you.
Two good starts, Legace says, is all Bernier needs to get his confidence back.
“He’s a factor of playing in Toronto. Hockey’s everywhere there. Even when you try to get away from it, you still hear about it. And when the snowball starts to go the wrong way, you’re still going to hear about,” says Legace, who argued that Bernier’s struggles are all mental.
“He’s just gotta get back to the grindstone. If he gets a couple good starts, it’s going to turn his whole season around. That’s all it going to take.
“It’s weird how it goes the other way, too.”
LISTEN: Manny Legace talks Jonathan Bernier, Garret Sparks, and fights
Good starts have eluded the $4.15-million goaltender this season. After recovering from a lower-body injury that saw James Reimer seize his crease, Bernier returned Saturday night and let in some soft goals in the Leafs’ 4-2 loss to the Washington Capitals.
Babcock considered pulling him after the second period, and the home crowd showered Bernier with a Bronx cheer. Enter Sparks, whom you may remember from such Google searches as “Who is Garret Sparks?”
Meaning this: Bernier’s victory-driven coach would rather try his luck with a seventh-round prospect with zero NHL experience than the well-paid de facto No. 1.
Legace defends Bernier’s talent, saying he doesn’t believe the Quebec native’s time with the Maple Leafs is now limited.
“I believe it’s sending a message that ‘Hey, you gotta get your game together. You struggled two nights before. I’m going to give you time to get your game back together. Right now I feel better going with the younger guy.’ That’s the way Babcock coaches. I’ve seen it firsthand,” explains Legace, who was Detroit’s No. 1 during Babcock’s first season with the Red Wings.
“If he’s not having trust in you, he’ll play another guy over top of you–doesn’t matter where he’s from. He looks at the whole organization as one team, not 23 guys. He looks at the whole 46-man roster, from the Marlies to the Leafs, as one organization. If a guy comes up and he can play, he’s going to play.”
The Maple Leafs head to Winnipeg, where they’ll play the Jets on Wednesday. If Reimer is healthy, he gets the start.
