There’s nothing like a first-string goaltending injury to create more-than-a-little worry, especially when it’s in Leafland. The good news is that if reports are accurate, Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender James Reimer’s whiplash injury to his neck isn’t all that bad, and he might even be able to play this Thursday in New York.

PHOTO CREDIT - MapleLeafs.com

Cambridge - Oct. 25, 2011 - There’s nothing like a first-string goaltending injury to create more-than-a-little worry, especially when it’s in Leafland.

The good news is that if reports are accurate, James Reimer’s whiplash injury to his neck isn’t all that bad, and he might even be able to play this Thursday in New York against the Rags. Yet until he steps onto the ice, the news and speculation won’t stop fans and media alike from tearing apart the performances of backup Jonas Gustavsson, who for several years had been suggested as the next great Leafs backstop.

Gustavsson, to his credit, played well in the Leafs loss to Philly last night. He had several highlight-reel saves in the second period alone. Overall this season, in 2 starts and a fill-in performance, Gustavsson is sporting a 4.88 Goals Against Average and an .857 Save Percentage. Both numbers can be considered hardly adequate, but he did face a tough team in Boston which can inflate any netminder’s numbers in the wrong direction.

Saturday’s injury to Reimer happened when he took an elbow to the head against Montreal on Saturday. He left the game after the first period. That’s when Leafs fans collectively gasped.

Reimer right now seems to have the faith of the masses as the saviour between the pipes. He has a 2.58 GAA and a .912 SV%. Good numbers indeed, and certainly missed by the team as he recovers. He was a 5-1-1 when starting games prior to the injury. Last year at this time, he was with the AHL Marlies.

In other news, Phil Kessel nailed his 9th goal and 15th point of the season last night - which leaves him leading the league in both goals and points. It also looks like Tim Connolly and Tyler Bozak both will be ready to play Thursday evening.