James Reimer
Dec. 18-24, 2017
3-0-0 1.33 GAA .964 SV%
106 saves on 110 shots
James Reimer helped the Florida Panthers to a perfect week with three consecutive wins while posting his first shutout of the season in his ninth consecutive start for the team.
Reimer also stopped 106 of 110 shots for a .964 save percentage to go along with a 1.33 goals-against average while helping the Panthers to their 35th point of the 2017-18 season.
On the heels of three losses in a row, the Panthers were bolstered by Reimer's 39-save performance in a 3-2 come-from-behind victory on the road against the Arizona Coyotes Tuesday. For his performance, and saves like the one below, the Manitoban netminder was named the game's third star.
The Panthers returned home to Sunrise to greet the Minnesota Wild Friday at BB&T Center, where Reimer made 29 saves for the home side in a 4-2 victory after which Florida head coach Bob Boughner praised his backup for.
"[Reimer] played solid. I thought we were pretty good in front of him. I didn't think we gave up a heck of a lot, which was important. I thought our defensive effort was good. He came up with the saves, especially when they had the goalie pulled. It was nice to see him play another solid game."
In the second of a back-to-back at home, Reimer earned himself an early Christmas present Saturday with his first shutout of the 2017-18 season – and 18th NHL career shutout – by turning aside 38 shots in a 1-0 blanking of the visiting Ottawa Senators. The 29-year-old was named the game's second star in what was his 23rd appearance of the campaign.
Reimer is now 9-4-4 on the season as he has continued to answer the call for his team with injured Roberto Luongo, still on the sidelines after being lost to a lower-body injury on Dec. 4. Head coach Boughner knows that while Luongo had been outstanding for the team, Reimer has provided the Panthers just as much opportunity to win along this recent stretch.
"He [Luongo] was probably playing some of his best hockey of the year and we were rolling a little bit. We were getting points in games where maybe we didn't deserve points. He was standing on his head. When that happened, obviously, it was tough on the mindset of the team," Boughner told NHL.com But Reims came in and he's been solid for us. He's given us a chance to win every night."
As to whether he's had to alter his approach, Reimer, in true goaltender fashion, adheres to his routine.
"The biggest transition is just making sure that there isn't really a transition," Reimer told NHL.com. "Whether you're playing one game a week, or three or four games a week, your mentality has to be the same. You're just focused on one game... Being a goalie or any athlete, your main thing is your belief in your ability."
Reimer looks to extend his consecutive games started streak to 10 when the Panthers host the Philadelphia Flyers Thursday night.
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Complete listing of the 2017-18 NHLPA.com Players of the Week here
