Jim Hiller made the move the Maple Leafs needed on Thursday, turning to Anthony Stolarz in goal as Toronto looked for a much-needed win against Minnesota.
For a team trying to get back on track, the decision at the crease matters just as much as the line combinations and matchup management. Goaltending has been the biggest problem spot, and Hiller went with the option that has given Toronto the better results so far.
Sergei Bobrovsky was spotted skating during the team’s optional skate, which usually points to a night off rather than a start. That fits the numbers, too.
Bobrovsky has struggled to a 3-8-2 record with a 3.47 GAA and .881 SV%. He has flashed signs of the old version of himself at times, but his season has raised real questions about whether he should still be carrying the load.
Stolarz, meanwhile, has been the steadier choice despite a couple of rough outings of his own. He enters with a 5-2-0 record, a 2.72 GAA and .908 SV%. He has allowed three goals or fewer in four straight starts, while Bobrovsky has done that only once all season and has given up four or more goals five times.
With the Maple Leafs desperate for a win, Hiller didn’t have much room to maneuver. Stolarz is the safer play, and if the decision helps Toronto finally snap out of its skid, it could also take some heat off a coach who’s been under plenty of scrutiny already. For now, the path forward is simple: get the win, get some confidence back, and see if the pressure starts to ease.
In Other News...
Maple Leafs Need Jim Hiller To Make One Tough Veteran Call
The Maple Leafs have stumbled through the opening stretch of a difficult homestand, dropping their first four games and sliding near the bottom of the Atlantic Division. It has put head coach Jim Hiller in a familiar but uncomfortable spot: he has leaned into a player-friendly approach, yet the results are starting to demand something firmer from the bench.
For Toronto, the question is no longer whether the lineup needs a jolt, but how far Hiller is willing to go to provide one. The pressure is building around the clubs veteran core, and the goaltending picture has added another layer of uncertainty, with the team choosing to stay the course for now even as the debate over a bigger change keeps hanging over the room. [Read more 🡒]
Maple Leafs Face One Big Question In This Capitals Trade Link
The trade market has a familiar feel for the Maple Leafs, who are always weighing whether a swing on a young forward is worth the cost. Ivan Miroshnichenko has surfaced in that conversation after Washington reportedly made the 22-year-old left winger available, giving Toronto another possible route to add skill without taking a major step into the top of the market.
For the Leafs, though, the price is the real issue. Washington is said to be asking for a first-round pick or comparable value, and that kind of return can quickly push a deal out of Torontos comfort zone, especially for a player with limited NHL experience. If the asking price stays where it is, the more likely outcome may be that the Leafs keep looking elsewhere and use their assets on other roster needs. [Read more 🡒]
Oilers Keep Winning But Another Reality Check May Be Coming
Edmonton keeps finding ways to bank points, but the process has been shaky enough to draw attention even in victory. The Oilers got by the Flyers with Zach Hyman scoring twice, yet the game again left the impression that they were leaning on their goaltending more than their five-on-five play, a theme that has followed them through this recent stretch.
Now comes Toronto, the same Maple Leafs team that already handed Edmonton a lopsided loss and will be watching to see whether the Oilers have cleaned up anything at all. For a club trying to build momentum, this is the kind of matchup that can either validate the wins or expose how thin the margin has been. [Read more 🡒]