Latest news with #AnthonyStolarz
Toronto Star
25-05-2025
- Sport
- Toronto Star
Being exceptional isn't enough to win the Stanley Cup. Teams that rise to the challenge share one thing in common — and the Leafs don't have it
For the past eight years, the Toronto Maple Leafs have been one of the most talented NHL teams . This year, the team looked poised to go the distance. They won the Atlantic Division title for the first time in a quarter-century (excluding the condensed 2020-21 season) and goaltender Anthony Stolarz ended the regular season red-hot, winning his last eight starts. Then, for the ninth year in a row, it all came crashing down in the playoffs. The Leafs were eliminated in the second round by the Florida Panthers on May 18 after blowing a 2-0 series lead. The Leafs were so badly outplayed, they matched the NHL record for the largest margin defeat by a home team in a Game 7.
National Post
23-05-2025
- Sport
- National Post
Player-by-player final look at 2024-25 Toronto Maple Leafs
For the 2024-25 Maple Leafs, the pain of losing yet again in the Stanley Cup playoffs and falling short of expectations is sure to linger through the summer. Article content Article content We're taking a final look at the group as the players head off for the summer. Article content Contracts are listed with remaining term and the players' salary cap hit. Article content Anthony Stolarz Article content Remember when there didn't seem to be much available among goalies in free agency last summer? Stolarz established himself as a true starter after signing a two-year contract. He played in a career-high 34 games and led NHL goalies with a .926 save percentage during the regular season. Rare was the game Stolarz allowed a soft goal. A knee issue kept him out of the lineup for nearly two months, but he went 12-4-1 after returning on Feb. 6 and was the clear No. 1 when he suffered a concussion in Game 1 against Florida, ending his season. Article content Article content Joseph Woll Article content Like Stolarz, Woll didn't tire while hitting a career-high. For Woll, it was 42 games, and he had a .909 save percentage, 13th in the NHL and tied with his pal Jake Oettinger of the Dallas Stars. Woll had a good regular season on the whole, but couldn't overtake Stolarz, who simply was better. Woll would've had to have been close to perfect to match Florida's Sergei Bobrovsky in the second round and we know what happened. All things considered, expect Woll to take a good run at the starter's job when training camp opens in September. Article content The 26-year-old developed into what a team should want out of a third-pairing defenceman: Few concerns, in general, when he's on the ice and a steady physical presence. Not only was the 6-foot-4, 211-pound Benoit a Game 3 overtime hero against Ottawa after he scored once in 79 regular-season games, he led Leafs D-men in the playoffs with 42 hits and led the team in blocks. Despite where he lands on the depth chart, Benoit should have no worries about trying to hang on to his job in camp. Article content Article content Article content Brandon Carlo
New York Times
20-05-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Leafs goalie Anthony Stolarz discusses Sam Bennett hit, says he suffered concussion
TORONTO — Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Anthony Stolarz said he suffered a concussion after being hit in the head by Florida Panthers centre Sam Bennett in Game 1 of the second round of the NHL playoffs. 'I don't think any malicious intent on (Bennett's) part,' Stolarz said during the Leafs players' final news conference of the season on Tuesday morning. 'I think it was just one of those things: it's the playoffs and he's in the moment and he wants to score a goal for his team and I'm doing my best to you know try to keep the puck out of my net. It was just one those things where he just caught me in a bad spot.' Advertisement Stolarz remained in the net for about two minutes of action after taking the elbow from Bennett, but he vomited near the Leafs bench during a TV timeout and subsequently left the game. He was taken to a local hospital for further evaluation before being sent home. He did not appear in the Leafs' net through the rest of the series, but did return as the backup in Game 7. 'It was just an unfortunate incident,' Stolarz said. '(Bennett) caught me in a bad spot and I just had to go through the steps to get healthy.' Stolarz also took a slap shot to his face mask earlier in Game 1, but he said he did not believe that contributed to his injury. 'I don't think so. I've taken a lot of pucks off my helmet in my career, and I felt fine,' Stolarz said. 'The way I felt after that, it was probably another 45 minutes and I didn't feel anything. But after (Bennett's elbow) is when I started to feel symptoms.' Stolarz spoke with Bennett after the incident. 'I just told him it's one of those things. It's a very fast game and s—'s going to happen,' Stolarz said. In the days after sustaining the concussion, Stolarz did not practice or travel with the team. He did skate with Leafs staff. Stolarz was a surprise addition to the Leafs' lineup in Game 7. Actions at the morning skate suggested Matt Murray would back up Joseph Woll, but Stolarz took warmups and spent the game on the bench. The 31-year-old made 34 regular-season appearances — the most of his career — and led the NHL with a .926 save percentage. His size, aggressive demeanour and shot-tracking ability established him as a bonafide NHL tandem goalie for the first time. He played all six games in the Maple Leafs' first-round victory over the Ottawa Senators. Stolarz's stellar play was a somewhat surprising bright spot this season after he inked a two-year, $5-million deal in the offseason. He was one of the team's most valuable players, helping lead the Leafs to a first-place finish in the Atlantic Division.
Yahoo
18-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Anthony Stolarz injury update: Maple Leafs goalie might not travel for Panthers series
Toronto Maple Leafs goalie Anthony Stolarz, who went to the hospital after being hit twice in the head during the series opener, might not travel to Florida. "I doubt it, at least right away," said coach Craig Berube, whose team leads the best-of-seven series 2-0. Advertisement That means Joseph Woll will continue to have the net against the Panthers. He entered Game 1 after Stolarz left and gave up three goals on 20 shots as the Maple Leafs held on to win 5-4. He stopped 25 shots in a 4-3 win in Game 2. Stolarz took a Sam Reinhart wrist shot off the mask in the first period. In the second period, Florida's Sam Bennett caught him in the head during a collision in the crease and Stolarz dropped to the ice. He remained in the game but got sick to his stomach by the bench during a television timeout and went to the dressing room. Multiple reports said he was taken to the hospital for further evaluation and later released. Advertisement Bennett, who has had some controversial plays in the past, wasn't penalized. The NHL Player Safety department took no action. "Looking back at the video, really the contact that was made was, in my opinion, it's really just a bump," Bennett told reporters on Tuesday. "There's no forceful action. I'm trying to score. The last thing I'm thinking about is elbowing him in the head." Stolarz played for the Panthers last season. "Stoly is a great friend of mine, so when I hear he went to the hospital, of course I feed bad," Bennett said. "That's why I reached out." Game 3 is at 7 p.m. ET Friday in Sunrise, Florida. It will be broadcast by TNT and truTV. Stars forward Jason Robertson and Jets forward Mark Scheifele returned from injuries to suit up for Game 1 of their series. Scheifele scored a goal. Advertisement Robertson was injured in the regular-season finale and Scheifele was injured in Game 5 of the first round. But neither team's top defenseman was able to play. Dallas' Miro Heiskanen has been out since before the 4 Nations Face-Off with a knee injury. Winnipeg's Josh Morrissey left Game 7 after being checked. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Anthony Stolarz injury: Maple Leafs goalie could miss Panthers Game 3
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Maple Leafs Reveal Major Injury Update on Anthony Stolarz Entering Game 6
The Toronto Maple Leafs are just one game from being sent home for the season. Toronto will be looking to extend its second-round playoff series with the Florida Panthers in Game 6, but it'll have to win on the road to do so. The Maple Leafs held a 2-0 series lead but have dropped three straight games to the defending Stanley Cup champions. One reason for this is that Toronto has been without starting goalie Anthony Stolarz since Game 1. Advertisement Stolarz suffered a scary injury on a collision with Panthers center Sam Bennett. Backup Joseph Woll has taken over in the net for the Maple Leafs, and Toronto is likely to rely on him for the remainder of the series. Kristen Shilton of ESPN provided the latest update on Stolarz. "To get back to Toronto for a Game 7, the Leafs will have to win in Florida, but they likely won't have starting goaltender Anthony Stolarz," Shilton said. "He has been sidelined since Game 1 of the series with an undisclosed injury. He resumed skating over the weekend and was on the ice for a 30-minute workout on Thursday, but Berube doubted Stolarz would join the Leafs in Florida for Game 6." Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Anthony Stolarz grabs his head after a collision with Florida Panthers forward Sam Bennett (not pictured) during the second period of Game 1 of their second-round E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images Without Stolarz, Woll is going to have to step up for the Maple Leafs. Woll gave up five goals on 25 shots before he was benched in Game 5, putting some doubt in his abilities entering the crucial Game 6 contest. Advertisement If Woll can step up again for this team, the Maple Leafs may have enough juice left to send things back to Toronto for Game 7. Related: NHL Makes Major Change to Capitals-Hurricanes Playoff Series Related: Capitals Considering Big Lineup Change Facing Elimination
