Leafs goalies struggles a concern

It has been a struggle for the Toronto Maple Leafs as of late – 5 losses in a row. They have 19 games remaining and the Leafs are holding onto a playoff spot, just one point up on 8^th place Carolina.

Is it panic time in Toronto?

“The biggest thing is to keep that game-by-game mentality,” said Cody Franson. “You start looking ahead, start looking where you are in the standings and say ‘what if’ or if you start seeing the light at the end of the tunnel and get ahead of yourself, that’s when you start throwing away some points because you are looking too far ahead.”

One concerning trend has been goaltending where James Reimer and Ben Scrivens have been ok, but are not stealing games for them.

In a week that features back to back games against teams Tampa Bay and Buffalo – two teams out of the playoffs at this time – the Leafs need to establish some kind of consistency in goal. (By the way, Tampa has the second most goals in the eastern conference behind Pittsburgh.)

Reimer’s GAA is a full point higher in March than it was in February (3.22 this month) while his save percentage is .906, his worst month of this shortened season.

For Scrivens his March statistics have been worse (3.60 GAA and a save percentage of .880).

With the trade deadline rapidly approaching, do the Leafs look to address goaltending? Will the price be too much? GM Dave Nonis has made it clear he will not sacrifice future assets for the present.

Also remember the salary cap is dropping next year, so while Toronto would like more experience goaltending that comes at a price.

What goalies are available? Yes Roberto Luongo is out there but unless Vancouver is willing to drop the price Nonis won’t go after him.

The Kings still have Jonathan Bernier but he – like Scrivens and Reimer – lacks NHL experience.

Calgary’s Miika Kiprusoff may be on the market, but his contract and the asking price likely will be too much for the Leafs to take on.  He is to make $5.833 M next year before he becomes a UFA.

Anaheim’s Jonas Hiller could be dealt with the emergence of Viktor Fasth. Hiller is to make $4.5 M next season before he becomes a UFA.

Ryan Miller’s time in Buffalo may be coming to an end. He has another year to go at a salary of $6.25 M before he becomes a UFA.

You can see the dilemma Nonis and the Maple Leafs face.

This should also concern Leafs fans: it seems Coach Randy Carlyle has lost confidence in Reimer. He didn’t start against his hometown team Winnipeg on Saturday. Scrivens wasn’t much better and if the coach doesn’t have the confidence in his goaltending, how can the players?

A few weeks ago, Randy Carlyle said of his goaltending, “Our goaltending has been NHL quality goaltending. We have some people that can play at a high level in the NHL.”

You can’t say that now. Of course defensively the Leafs haven’t been as structured as they were earlier this season on the blueline.

Only the Florida Panthers have allowed more goals per game than the Maple Leafs this month (3.71) and the Leafs know it must improve if they expect to make the playoffs for the first time since 2004.

Decisions, decisions…..