Anthony Stolarz Returns for Maple Leafs, Shakes Off Rust in Loss to Golden Knights
After more than two months away from NHL action, Anthony Stolarz was back between the pipes for the Toronto Maple Leafs on Friday night. The veteran goaltender, sidelined for 33 games with a nerve issue, made his return in a high-stakes matchup against the Vegas Golden Knights - and the rust was hard to miss.
Thrown into the fire without the benefit of a conditioning stint, Stolarz had to navigate the speed and intensity of a game that carried major weight for Toronto. From the opening puck drop, it was clear he was still working to find his rhythm. His rebound control was shaky, and he looked like a goalie trying to play catch-up with the pace of the game - because, well, he was.
The 6-3 loss to Vegas wasn’t the result the Leafs were hoping for, but for Stolarz, the night was about more than the scoreboard. It was about being back.
“It was definitely exciting just to be back on the ice with the guys again,” Stolarz said postgame. “Just having the opportunity to battle, and compete with them.
Obviously, it sucks watching from up top, it was something that was out of my control. At the end of the day, it was just nice to be back.”
Stolarz finished the night with 25 saves on 30 shots. It wasn’t a performance that’s going to lead off the highlight reels, but for a goalie who hadn’t seen live NHL action in over two months, the fact that he got through the game feeling good - physically and mentally - was a win in itself.
The biggest challenge? The speed of the game.
“Probably just the tempo and the speed,” he admitted. “You can do your best to replicate those in practice, but once you get out there in a game, at the NHL level, the tempo of the play is a lot quicker.
Tonight, especially early on, at times I was a little behind. As the game wore on, I thought I got a little more comfortable.”
That adjustment period was evident. Vegas came out flying, and Stolarz was under pressure early. While he settled in as the game progressed, the early goals against tilted the ice in the Golden Knights’ favor and made it an uphill battle for the Leafs the rest of the way.
The decision to start Stolarz in such a crucial game raised some eyebrows. Joseph Woll had been handling the goaltending duties effectively, and with no back-to-back situation forcing the issue, head coach Craig Berube’s call to go with Stolarz was a bold one. But the 32-year-old netminder said this game had been circled on his calendar during his rehab.
“We kind of had a plan, around this time,” Stolarz said. “A few days ago, I started to feel really good, obviously had an opportunity to go down to the Marlies, and get in those full practices.
A little longer than our practices. Just being able to go down there and work, get some reps, I felt really good after that, and thought it was time to get activated.”
With Colorado coming to town on Sunday and no back-to-backs until next week, the Leafs have a bit of breathing room to manage their goaltending tandem. Whether Berube sticks with Woll for the next outing or gives Stolarz another shot remains to be seen, but what’s clear is that Stolarz is back - and now it’s about finding his form.
The Leafs are in the thick of a playoff push, and every decision matters. If Stolarz can shake off the rust and return to the steady presence he’s been in the past, Toronto might have the kind of goaltending depth that makes a real difference down the stretch.