Anthony Stolarz latest injury update: Maple Leafs hit rock bottom as Coach Craig Berube casts doubt on his return for Game 6
The Toronto Maple Leafs are in serious trouble. What started as a promising Round 2 playoff series has turned into a nightmare, with the Florida Panthers now one win away from sending the Leafs home. Their recent 6-1 loss on home ice wasn't just a scoreboard disaster — it's a reflection of how badly things have unraveled since losing starting goaltender Anthony Stolarz in Game 1.
Coach Craig Berube casts doubt on Anthony Stolarz returning for Game 6
Anthony Stolarz, who posted a respectable .901 save percentage through the playoffs' first round, has been sidelined since taking two brutal hits in Game 1 — one from Sam Reinhart to the chin and another accidental blow to the head from Sam Bennett. Stolarz's attempt to power through was short-lived, as he vomited on the bench and was rushed to the hospital. Since then, there's been an ominous silence about the specifics of his condition, though the signs point toward a possible concussion.
When asked whether Stolarz would travel with the team for the do-or-die Game 6 in Florida, coach Craig Berube bluntly responded, "I doubt it." That's a sobering blow for a team already on the brink.
Yet, hope briefly flickers when Stolarz was spotted skating ahead of Game 5. 'He's progressing. He was on the ice a little bit, so he's doing much better,' Berube said. However, the goalie only spent 25 minutes in one-on-one drills before exiting, and he hasn't joined team practice since.
The Maple Leafs' goalie situation is now hanging by a thread. Joseph Woll had flashes of brilliance earlier in the series but crumbled in Game 5, managing just a .800 save percentage. The team even had to call on third-stringer Matt Murray after Woll allowed five goals.
Also Read:
Anthony Stolarz injury update: Goaltender injury raises red flags as NHL expert warns of symptoms 'more serious than a concussion'
With the Panthers now smelling blood and playing Game 6 on home ice, the odds are heavily stacked against Toronto. The Leafs need more than hope—they need a miracle. Whether Woll can summon it, or if this is the end of the line, remains to be seen. Either way, risking Stolarz's long-term health for one desperate game isn't a gamble worth taking.
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