TORONTO – Under the strain of a no. 1 gig in the NHL for the very first time, Jonathan Bernier has learned that its best to do little with off-nights from the grueling schedule, condensed as it is in an Olympic year. "I go home and watch TV and just rest," he said with a smile. "But thats what you need to do to be successful. Thats what Im going to do." And thats precisely what the Maple Leafs need him to do. Outside of the incomparable Phil Kessel, no player means more to Torontos fortunes down the stretch and into a hopeful postseason run than the 25-year-old between the pipes. Freed from the shadows of Jonathan Quick, Bernier has shined brilliantly in his first go-around as an NHL starter, minding the fort on most nights in front of a poor defensive team. The Laval, Quebec native ranks sixth in save percentage amongst goaltenders with at least 30 starts, this despite facing more shots than anyone but Mike Smith – Smith, of course, making nine more starts. Whether Bernier has the juice to maintain such a performance down the stretch could very well determine his teams fate. Though theyve scored in droves all year, the Leafs have also struggled badly to defend, requiring Bernier to fend off a barrage of 35, 40 and sometimes 50 shots against on many nights. His efforts have rarely wavered in spite of the workload. Berniers best month in terms of save percentage was October when he posted a sterling .933 mark, his worst coming more recently in January with a still respectable .916 showing. The Leafs – who allow a league-high of more than 36 shots per game – would not be on the firm ground of a playoff spot currently without such feats. "I knew my biggest challenge this year was going to be consistency," he told the Leaf Report, "to be good every night and hopefully, once in a while, be great and steal a few games for your team. Thats my main goal, to be good every night and give a chance to my team to win. But thats hard. When you havent played that much (as a starter) you feel tired a lot more than you are usually so its more like a grind mentally to push yourself to be better every day and work hard in practice. "Why (Henrik) Lundqvist is known as the best is hes going to be good every night and hes going to be great once in a while. Thats how you become the best is consistency. You can have one good year and then youre not going to be the best because youve got to prove it over and over. Thats what makes you a great player." Not since the 2009-10 season has Bernier played anywhere near this many games (40 starts) and that was when he was a Manchester Monarch in the AHL. His performance then was eye-catching. Then just 21, he posted a league-leading .936 save percentage during the regular season – Nathan Lawson was second at .922 – raising his level even higher in the playoffs with a .939 mark that again topped every one of his Calder Cup counterparts. All of which makes his performance this season if not surprising then reaffirming of the promise he showed early and often as a highly-touted prospect in the Kings organization. The question lingering now is whether he can continue to perform down the stretch or whether the strain of a sometimes painstaking load in Toronto will prove too much to bear. It will be worthwhile testing ground for the 11th pick in the 06 draft and could ultimately decide the Leafs fate this season. They remain a bad defensive team even with his heroics, ranking fifth to last in goals against. If he falters theres every chance they too falter as well (James Reimer lurks in the background in that case as a proven, if not unused, alternative). Bernier was on point in the final lead-up to the 18-day Olympic stoppage, but was scuffed up in his first two starts afterward, yielding nine goals combined in overtime losses to the Islanders and Canadiens. Off-nights like that will challenge the Leafs playoff push. Theyve required great goaltending to get to this point and will need more of the same in the final 20 games, the bulk of which Bernier is in line to start. Bernier for his part is doing what he can to remain sharp in the final leg of the regular season race. Earlier this season he noted that perhaps the greatest challenge of reassuming control of no. 1 duties is the mental focus required each and every night through an exhausting schedule, not simply the physical wear and tear associated with the job. "Its all about rest and feeling good about yourself and making sure you eat properly, you rest, you sleep good," he said. "Those are the things that are going to get you through a full season to be mentally sharp." Ambition is certainly high for Bernier. He wants to be great and the Leafs, at this stage, need him to be great, gambled when they acquired him that he could be great. "I dont want to look too far ahead," he said, "but my goal is to be the best I can be. 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Johan Franzen had two goals and two assists, Gustav Nyquist a goal and three assists and David Legwand a goal and two assists in the Red Wings 7-4 win over the New Jersey Devils.TORONTO -- Canadas hockey teams are getting a new look next season. Hockey Canada unveiled new a jersey that will be worn by the mens, womens and sledge hockey teams as the organization marks its 100th anniversary. Hockey Canada chief operating officer Scott Smith introduced the jersey Wednesday at Torontos MasterCard Centre. "Its a high performance jersey," Smith said. "It allows out teams to pursue goal medals, of which we plan on bringing a few more home next year." The new jersey, developed in partnership with Nike, uses traditional red, white and black Hockey Canada colours. It features the Hockey Canada stickman logo along with the 100th anniversary logo on its left chest areas. The sleeves have two stripes each on their upper arms. "Canada" is spelled diagonally on the front of the jersey, a style that makes a return after more than 40 years. "There are some historical elements to this that you might be able to associate with other jerseys that have been worn over the last 100 years," Smith said. The jersey unveiling was part of a Hockey Canada event to kick off a cross-country exhibition tour. It features a 1,900 square metre caravan with interactive exhibits, including a timeline of hockey milestones. It also includes a year-round artificial surface rink and a five-by-three-metre outdoor video screen. The tour will officially begin in Ottawa Juuly 1, and will is expected to visit 100 communities before ending next May.dddddddddddd Thirteen communities have been scheduled to date: Toronto, Ottawa, Russell, Ont.; Kenora, Ont.; Kitchener, Ont.; Thunder Bay, Ont.; Montreal, Brossard, Que.; Sherbrooke, Que.; Calgary; Edmonton; Red Deer, Alta.; and Kamloops, B.C. The tour is partially funded by $3 million from the federal Department of Canadian Heritage through its Commemorate Canada Program. Smith estimated the government funding comprises more than half of the tours budget. Hockey Canada chairman Jim Hornell said the 100th anniversary tour has four main goals. "Hockey Canada wants Canadians to play the game. We want to engage communities," he said. "We want to leave a legacy, and we want to educate Canadians about our great game." Hockey Canada was officially formed in 1968 by the federal government, but it traces its roots to the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association founded in 1914. The two organizations merged in 1994. Minister of State for Sport Bal Gosal, who represented Canadian Heritage Minister Shelly Glover at the event, said the national hockey teams that won gold medals at the past two Winter Olympics are role models for all Canadians. "National celebrations like this bring us together, strengthen communities, and help Canadians take pride in the citizenship we all share," he said. 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