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Goalie nods: Reimer back in starter’s role for Toronto (Update: Nope, it’s Bernier)

James Reimer

James Reimer

AP

James Reimer will make his first start for the Maple Leafs since Dec. 3 tonight in Pittsburgh.

Update: No he won’t. Not long before puck drop, head coach Mike Babcock said Reimer woke up with tightness today, and the Leafs decided to shut him down immediately. So it’ll be Jonathan Bernier tonight instead, with Antoine Bibeau backing up on an emergency recall basis.

Reimer, who’s been sidelined for most of the month with an undisclosed injury, gets back into the starter’s role after Bernier was torched for six goals on 15 shots in Tuesday’s loss to the Islanders. Reimer came on in relief of Bernier and fared well, stopping all six shots faced.

Prior to getting hurt, Reimer was playing some of the best hockey of his career -- the 27-year-old was 7-4-4 with a 1.96 GAA and .936 save percentage.

For Pittsburgh, Matt Murray will get the start in goal again.

Elsewhere...

-- Braden Holtby will be in goal for the Caps after shutting out the Sabres on Monday. Buffalo will go with a different netminder in the rematch: Chad Johnson, who allowed three goals on 33 shots in a win over Boston on Saturday.

-- Cory Schneider’s in for the Devils tonight, while Ottawa counters with Andrew Hammond.

-- Ben Bishop will start when the Bolts host the Rangers in a rematch of last year’s Eastern Conference Final. No word yet on a New York nod; head coach Alain Vigneault is expected to make an announcement within the next hour.

-- Martin Jones goes for the Sharks against Philly tonight. No word yet on a Flyers starter.