Toronto Maple Leafs hit the ice against the Ottawa Senators at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Ont. on Feb. 16, 2013. Leafs Nazem Kadri gets tangled up with Senators' Zack Smith while approaching netminder Craig Anderson. (Dave Thomas/QMI Agency)
TORONTO - In the pre-game warmup, Ben Scrivens wore a jersey with Johnny Bower’s name on the back and tried not to think of the legend’s place as one of the greatest goaltenders in Maple Leafs history.
With time ticking down in the third period Saturday night at the Air Canada Centre, he claims not to have given much thought to the possibility of his first career shutout either, although the grin on his face suggested otherwise.
In an otherwise ratty first round of the Battle of Ontario though, Scrivens was superb in kicking aside 34 Ottawa Senators shots, including 19 in the second period, to earn that first statistical highlight of his career in a 3-0 Toronto victory.
While one game does not a Johnny Bower make, it was a big night for Scrivens, who is under the spotlight until James Reimer returns from his knee injury, the win was huge for the goaltender and the team, which moved two points ahead of the Senators and solo sixth place in the NHL’s Eastern Conference.
“I was focussed completely on the game,” Scrivens said about the possibility of the shutout late in the third with the Leafs leading 2-0.
