The pc28Maple Leafs will start Joseph Woll in net tonight. Here, he makes a glove save as Florida Panthers centre Evan Rodrigues looks for a tip-in during Game 1 of the second round.
The pc28Maple Leafs will start Joseph Woll in net tonight. Here, he makes a glove save as Florida Panthers centre Evan Rodrigues looks for a tip-in during Game 1 of the second round.
ҴDzJoseph Woll will get his first start of the 2025 Stanley Cup playoffs tonight in Game 2 against the Florida Panthers while Anthony Stolarz continues to recover from multiple hits to the head.
Neurosurgeon Charles Tator called the amount of force “gigantic,” while Chris Nowinski, CEO of the Concussion Legacy Foundation suggested the
“We’ve got a lot of confidence in him,” captain Auston Matthews said of Woll. “He’s extremely focused. He does all the right things. Tonight, he’ll be prepared and ready to go.”
Coach Craig Berube did not use the word “cDzԳܲDz” when speaking about Stolarz, and did not have a timeline on his recovery, including when asked if there was a chance the Leafs’ No.1 goalie could return sometime in the second round.
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“Anything’s possible,” said Berube. “I don’t have an answer for you for that right now. He’s recovering, so he’s doing well.”
Woll took the starter’s net for an otherwise full morning skate, that saw the participation of veteran netminder Matt Murray and rookie Dennis Hildeby.
Joseph Woll in the starters net
— Kevin McGran (@kevin_mcgran)
Murray, who won back-to-back Stanley Cups with the Pittsburgh Penguins, will be the backup because of his experience.
“I think more than anything he’s been there done it,” said Berube. “Won.”
Woll has plenty of playoff experience. Game 2 will be his ninth appearance over three post-seasons.
He’s one of the few Leaf goalies with a post-season record above .500. Woll is 4-2, with a save percentage of .924 save percentage and 2.12 goals against average. That includes earning the win in Game 1 when he allowed three goals on 20 shots in relief of Stolarz.
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“He (Woll) has actually got some experience coming in the middle of a series,” teammate John Tavares said of Woll. “So that always can help when you rely on some experience.
“We’ve got all the faith in him. He’s always played tremendous hockey here for us over this season and this time here.”
Stolarz is also above .500 (4-2). Stolarz was hit by a puck in the head in the first period, then took a Sam Bennett elbow to the head in the second period. He was spotted vomiting on the bench during a TV timeout, left the game and was ultimately taken out on a stretcher to the hospital, though he was back with his teammates for meetings Tuesday.
“He seems to be feeling better,” Matthews said of Stolarz. “He’s been around the room, so it’s good to see him. We’re not really trying to pester him with questions. Just try to be there for him and hopefully he’ll be back there soon.”
The last Leaf goalie to win more than he lost in the post-season was Curtis Joseph, 32-28 between 1999 and 2002.
Kevin McGran is a Star sports reporter based in Toronto. Follow
him on Bluesky @kevinmcgran
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