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Leafs’ Bernier earns shut out in first AHL conditioning stint start

Jonathan Bernier

Toronto Maple Leafs goalie Jonathan Bernier reacts after realizing that a shot by New York Rangers’ Derek Stepan from the middle of the ice has slid past him during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Sunday, Nov. 15, 2015, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

AP

The struggles of 27-year-old Toronto Maple Leafs goalie Jonathan Bernier have been well chronicled this season, however on Friday, he earned a shutout in his first conditioning stint start with the Toronto Marlies.

Sent to the AHL earlier this week, Bernier made 22 saves in a 4-0 Marlies win over the Rochester Americans, getting this assignment off to a positive start after plenty of difficulties with the NHL club this season.

Bernier had yet to record a win in nine games with the Leafs, to go along with a .888 save percentage.

While Bernier remains in the minors for right now, the Leafs announced the call-up of goaltender Antoine Bibeau. He’ll join the team in St. Louis, after James Reimer was listed as day-to-day after he aggravated a recent injury, as per a report from the Canadian Press.

That would mean that for right now, Toronto’s goaltending duo includes the 21-year-old Bibeau, who has never played an NHL regular season game, and Garret Sparks, who has only two games of NHL experience.

Meanwhile, the goaltending situation with the Marlies provided another interesting storyline Friday: