In a dramatic turn of events for the Toronto Maple Leafs, goaltender Anthony Stolarz was rushed to the hospital for precautionary imaging after a puck struck him in the throat during warmups before their clash with the Ottawa Senators. The incident unfolded when Stolarz took a high shot from teammate William Nylander, prompting him to skate quickly to the bench, visibly in pain. After a brief consultation with the team's medical staff, Stolarz exited the ice.
The Leafs have promised to update fans as more information becomes available.
With Stolarz sidelined, Joseph Woll stepped up to start in net, marking his first back-to-back starts in the NHL following his appearance against the Carolina Hurricanes on Friday night. Woll has been a bright spot for the Leafs, boasting a solid .914 save percentage over his last five games. His performance was a key factor in the Leafs securing a point against the Hurricanes, where he made an impressive 32 saves in a narrow 4-3 overtime defeat.
Despite his strong play, Woll faced some criticism post-game. Leafs coach Craig Berube remarked, “He’s played well. But tonight, we needed a big save, whether it’s in overtime or on one of the breakaways.”
Woll's season has been eventful, having missed time earlier to address a personal family matter, only returning to action on November 15. Meanwhile, Stolarz, who dazzled with a .926 save percentage in his debut season with the Leafs in 2024-25, has faced challenges this year, posting an .894 save percentage through 22 games, following a two-month absence due to an upper-body injury.
As the Leafs navigate these goaltending challenges, all eyes will be on Woll to see if he can continue his strong form and provide the stability the team needs in net.