James Reimer leaves Leafs' practice with suspected injury
Toronto off until Saturday; Bernier winless this season
The Maple Leafs may have to go back to Jonathan Bernier in net, and not by design.
James Reimer, who has started 11 of the past 12 games for Toronto, left halfway through Tuesday's 45-minute practice with an undisclosed injury. He was able to skate to the bench on his own and after speaking to trainers, decided to leave the ice for good.
The Maple Leafs are off until Saturday's home game against Washington.
"He left the ice, I didn't check," head coach Mike Babcock said after practice. "We have a while to our next game, I don't know if he over-reacted, under-reacted, I don't know nothing about it."
If Reimer is unable to play against the Capitals, Bernier would likely get just his second start this month. His last start, after returning from an injury of his own, was on Nov. 15 — a 4-3 loss to the New York Rangers that included a goal by Derek Stepan from near centre ice.
The 27-year-old native from Laval, Que., is still in search of his first victory this season. He is 0-7-1 in eight games with a 3.17 goals-against average and .895 save percentage.
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