TORONTO — James Reimer is in the midst of his busiest stretch of games since April 2013, so a few days of rest this week probably won’t hurt.
Still, there is reason for at least mild concern when it comes to the Toronto Maple Leafs No. 1 goalie after he left Tuesday’s practice early and sat out Wednesday’s session entirely.
Reimer has started 11 of the last 12 games for Toronto, including both ends of a back-to-back on two occasions, but coach Mike Babcock indicated that there was no thought to giving his starter an extra break before he experienced some lower-body pain this week.
“None, zero,” Babcock said Wednesday. “We had seven days off this month — more than any team in organized hockey. So no.
“You’re a hockey player you play hockey, that’s it.”
As of now, Reimer expects to practice Friday and be available to start Saturday’s game against Washington. He did, however, leave the door open slightly to the fact that the discomfort might alter those plans.
“I mean anything can happen between now and then, but my expectation is that it should be good,” said Reimer.
A little extra caution makes sense with the Leafs enjoying an extended gap between games, but there is also a heightened level of unpredictability whenever a goaltender tries to play through pain.
Reimer doesn’t have a history of groin or hip trouble like many goalies, which is positive, and made it sound as though his issue only surfaced during Tuesday’s practice.
“Just a little bit of pain here and there, you know what I mean?” he said. “I just didn’t feel great and so I just thought it would be best to rest it up and make sure that we’re good to go.”
The 27-year-old has supplanted Jonathan Bernier as the team’s No. 1 man in November, starting 11 of 12 games while compiling a 6-2-3 record and .949 save percentage.
Bernier isn’t far removed from his own time on the sidelines with a lower-body issue, but seems to be in a good frame while waiting for the Leafs to press him back into action.
“I think mentally I’m in the right place right now,” he said.
