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Surprise! James Reimer starts against Boston tonight

Colorado Avalanche v Toronto Maple Leafs

TORONTO, CANADA - OCTOBER 17: James Reimer #34 of the Toronto Maple Leafs stops shots in the warm-up prior to a game against the Colorado Avalanche on October 17, 2011 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images)

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It was originally supposed to be Jonas Gustavsson’s start tonight against the Bruins, but instead it’ll mark James Reimer’s return to action as he gets the start tonight in a surprise decision by Ron Wilson.

Yesterday saw Reimer work out well in practice, but Wilson said it was virtually set that Gustavsson would get the call. Perhaps Wilson took a look at the Leafs’ last three games against the Bruins and saw they’d given up 19 goal, losing all three.

The Leafs are in need of a steadier goaltender to deal with the Bruins’ attack and in Reimer’s short time in the NHL, he’s done well against Boston. Reimer’s 3-1-0 against The Bruins with a beyond-solid .930 save percentage. Getting a marquee performance out of Reimer would go a long way in proving this budding rivalry isn’t that of the “hammer vs. nail” variety, according to Joe Haggerty of CSNNE.com.

For now, we’ll see what Reimer’s got tonight. After such a long layoff, facing Boston is as close to being thrown to the wolves as you can get. A big game out of Reimer tonight would give the Leafs the confidence they need to continue their march for the playoffs.