Ahead of start in Pittsburgh, Reimer relieves Bernier as Islanders defeat Maple Leafs 6-3

The fans at Air Canada Centre didn’t boo Jonathan Bernier off the ice as he headed toward the tunnel after 40 minutes of play but they certainly welcomed James Reimer with rousing applause to start the third period.

Beginning the season 0-8-3, Bernier has been in the process of turning things around one “baby step” at a time over the last 10 days since returning from a conditioning assignment with the AHL Toronto Marlies.

However, after winning three of his last four starts including an impressive 26-save shutout of the LA Kings on Dec. 19, Tuesday was a setback for the Maple Leafs' goaltender as he allowed a season-high six goals on 15 shots before being pulled at the end of the second period in a 6-3 loss to the New York Islanders.

“I don’t think I was ready, I wasn’t good enough tonight, “Bernier said. “It wasn’t my game…I just gotta be better next game.”

The Islanders held a 3-1 lead after the first period and opened the scoring two minutes into the game on just their second shot. Allowing an early goal has been one of several thorns in Bernier’s side throughout the season.

Midway through the second period, the Maple Leafs cut into the lead when PA Parenteau ripped a shot by Thomas Greiss from the right circle but 28 seconds later a misplay behind the net between Bernier and Dion Phaneuf led to the visitors regaining their two-goal cushion.

It got worse for Bernier and the Leafs as the lslanders continued to pour it on. Matt Martin and Anders Lee scored 1:14 apart to close out the period.

So right now, when exactly that “next game” is for Bernier depends on the play and health of James Reimer, who was already tapped to start in Pittsburgh on Wednesday for the second of back-to-back games.

Given the upcoming schedule where the Maple Leafs play three games spread out evenly over the next seven days it can reasonably expected that Reimer would start in each of them.

He was 7-4-4 with a .935 save percentage and 2.01 GAA entering play on Tuesday.

Reimer ascended to the No. 1 role in November before a nagging groin injury shelved him late in the month.  He re-entered the lineup on Dec. 2 against the Minnesota Wild but re-aggravated the injury and hasn’t played since.

The possibility of the same scenario repeating itself under poor ice conditions was on head coach Mike Babcock’s mind as he pondered allowing Reimer to enter play against the Isles.

“You coulda’ put him in early, we talked on the bench, (I was) scared of his groin,” Babcock said.  “We went to him between (periods) to make sure because the ice was so bad that you wanted to be real careful, you wanted to give him time to warm up and be sure about what we were doing.”

Reimer received a loud cheer when he made his first save five minutes into the third period on a good chance by Kyle Okposo.  It was one of 6 stops he made in relief of Bernier.

Babock has spoken at length about seizing opportunity, especially in regard to his goaltenders. Whether Bernier's performance against the Islanders was just a bump in the road or indicative of a larger more prolonged struggle, it seems apparent that Reimer has the opportunity to once again take the reins if he can pick up where he left off.

Follow Neil Acharya on Twitter: @Neil_Acharya