Toronto Maple Leafs hope Jonathan Bernier can stop Anaheim Ducks

The Toronto Maple Leafs hope that Jonathan Bernier can do something that only Semyon Varlamov has managed to do during the 2013-14 NHL season: stop the Anaheim Ducks.

Since Anaheim dropped its first game of the season to the Colorado Avalanche by a 6-1 final, they’ve been among the best teams in the league. They haven’t lost since and have yet to score less than three goals during a seven-game win streak. According to the Toronto Star, the Leafs will likely go with Bernier tonight against the scorching Ducks offense:

"Jonathan Bernier is expected to get the start Tuesday night when the Maple Leafs and coach Randy Carlyle try to halt the red-hot Anaheim Ducks.Bernier has faced the Ducks nine times in his career while James Reimer has never faced the West Coast powerhouse."

Toronto has cooled off a bit as of late, dropping its last two games against the Chicago Blackhawks and Carolina Hurricanes. Their schedule doesn’t get any easier as they welcome the Ducks to town.

Considering both of these teams like to play quick, physical hockey, this game could be one of the more entertaining contests this evening. You’ll see Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry crashing and banging like usual, and it’ll be up to Bernier to stop Anaheim’s vaunted offense—something that he’s proven capable of doing in seasons gone by.

The netminder came into the season in a 1A-1B situation with Reimer, but has since taken a stranglehold of the starting gig for the Leafs. A big game against Anaheim will only further cement his spot as the bona fide No. 1 goalie that the Leafs traded for over the summer.