Maple Leafs' Bernier closes woeful year on a high

It was a lamentable 12 months for Jonathan Bernier, but the embattled Toronto Maple Leafs netminder will actually carry a little momentum into 2016.

Bernier, thrust into goal in place of the injured James Reimer, stopped 39 shots, plus another two in the shootout, leading the Maple Leafs to 3-2 extra-time win over the Pittsburgh Penguins on Wednesday night.

The win, just his fourth of the season, was also his first on the second half of back-to-back starts in his career. He was previously 0-6 with a goals-against average just short of five.

His counterpart, Matt Murray, was almost equally as stout in his ongoing bid to unseat Jeff Zatkoff as the Penguins' backup. He made 34 saves and denied Maple Leaf shooters on three breakaway opportunities.

With the win, the Maple Leafs rise from the bottom of the Atlantic Division standings, jumping the Buffalo Sabres with 14 points in December.

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