On Saturday, the Leafs goalie is expected to start
for a third straight time, when the Leafs host the Edmonton Oilers. If he does get the start, it would be the
first time Bernier has done that in his career.
"I trained really hard in the summer and I
wanted to be ready," said the 25 year-old Bernier following a 4-0 victory
over Nashville on Thursday. "I knew
that was my chance to step up and show what I can do. I've been waiting for
that moment for a while in L.A."
"The one thing that Bernie did tonight, he
stood tall in the net and he didn't give up a lot of second opportunities,” said
Carlyle. “The puck seemed to hit him in the middle of the chest and he
controlled a lot of the rebounds.”
The key to Bernier in limiting rebounds is rather
simple.
“Get it in the chest,” said the Leafs goalie.
The numbers have been impressive thus far: He has
stopped 113 of 116 shots he has faced; has a 0.85 GAA and a save % of .974.
The Leafs are 4-1 this season (Bernier is 3 and 1)
and the loss occurred in a game in which he allowed 2 goals.
Bernier – the LA Kings 1st round pick, 11th
overall in the 2006 draft – credits his former QMJHL coach Clement Jodoin for
his ability to limit rebounds.Here’s what Bernier told Jonas Siegel of TSN.CA: Bernier is working to implement a defined partnership with his new defence core in Toronto, a system that will allow both to work together successfully, "The way I like to play is take away my far side," he explained, "and that makes a big difference because I can take away my short side, which most of the time I'll get in my chest."
These lessons date back to his head coach with the Lewiston MAINEiacs – Clement Jodoin, now an assistant coach with the Montreal Canadiens. Under such a system, as Bernier explained, the goaltender would assume responsibility for the strong side of the ice, the defenders keeping check of the weak side. "That was his system defensively," Bernier said of Jodoin. "I just thought it was so smart because that way it makes it look easy and obviously they're shooting more in your chest."
Hockey Night in Canada analyst Glenn Healy, a long-time back up in the NHL, recently blogged, “The Leafs no longer have to play a perfect game to get a win. He does something that I could never do – he makes it look easy.”
Bernier has excelled in the early going in Toronto,
but when asked after the game if he is the number one goalie, the head Coach
would have none of it.
“"I knew you'd ask that question because you
guys are just waiting to anoint somebody as the No. 1 goalie, but this is the
fourth ... fifth game of the year?" Carlyle barked at the media.
"It's a little early guys."
Not for Leafs fans. Keep in mind; this is an organization
that has had 16 goalies since the 2005-06 season:
Ed Belfour, Jean-Sebastien Aubin, Mikael Tellqvist,
Andrew Raycroft, Vesa Toskala, Scott Clemmensen, Martin Gerber, Vesa Toskala,
Curtis Joseph, Justin Pogge, Jean-Sebastien Giguere, Jonas Gustavsson, Joey
MacDonald, James Reimer, Ben Scrivens
and Jussi Rynnas.
You can understand why Leafs fans would like to anoint
someone – especially someone they feel is the best goalie since Belfour was
here – as the number one.
The numbers may suggest Jonathan Bernier has earned
that distinction, already. 
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