Anthony Stolarz is getting another look in net for the Maple Leafs, and this one comes with a shot at redemption.
The 32-year-old goaltender is set to start Thursday night when Toronto takes on the Seattle Kraken. It’ll be his second appearance since returning from a nerve injury that kept him sidelined for over two months - and it comes on the heels of a rough outing against the Vegas Golden Knights, where he gave up five goals.
Head coach Craig Berube didn’t mince words after that performance, noting that Stolarz may have tried to do too much in his return.
“When you look at him and the game and the tape, he tried to do way too much,” Berube said after the team’s morning skate in Seattle. “It’s understandable being out that long and wanting to help your team, but he just needs to do what he’s best at and focus on that.”
That eagerness is something you often see in players coming back from long-term injuries - the desire to make an immediate impact can lead to overextending, overcompensating, and ultimately, underperforming. For Stolarz, the challenge now is to settle back into his strengths.
And those strengths are no secret. Last season, he was one of the league’s most reliable goaltenders, posting a stellar .926 save percentage over 34 games. He played big in the net - literally and figuratively - using his 6-foot-6 frame to take away angles, stay patient, and let the game come to him.
That’s exactly what Berube wants to see again.
“Just big in net and let things come to him. Patient in net,” Berube said.
“He’s been really good at that, especially going back to last year. Very patient in net, taking on the shooter and just doing his job.
Obviously, puck play - he’s good at playing the puck too. So just those types of things - settle down and do your job.”
This season, though, has been anything but smooth. With Joseph Woll away from the team on personal leave to start the year, Stolarz was thrust into a heavier workload, starting 13 of the Leafs’ first 17 games. He posted a 6-6-1 record with an .884 save percentage before going down with the injury on November 11 against the Bruins.
That early stretch didn’t reflect the goalie we saw last year. Whether it was the increased responsibility, the rhythm of the schedule, or the wear and tear that led to the injury, Stolarz just didn’t look like himself.
Now, the Leafs are hoping that with Woll back and Stolarz working his way into form, the tandem can find its balance again - but it starts with the veteran netminder rediscovering his foundation.
He’ll get a familiar opponent to test that against. Stolarz was in net the last time the Kraken faced the Leafs back in October, a 4-3 overtime loss where he stopped 24 of 28 shots. It wasn’t a disaster, but it wasn’t a game-stealer either.
Thursday night offers a chance to flip that script.
And while all eyes will be on Stolarz between the pipes, the Leafs are also keeping a close watch on the status of William Nylander. The team is “hopeful” the star forward can return Saturday against the Canucks after missing 13 games with a groin injury. His absence has left a noticeable void in the Leafs’ offensive punch, and getting him back would be a major boost.
But first, it’s about getting the goaltending right. For Stolarz, that means keeping it simple, playing big, and letting the game come to him - just like he did when he was one of the NHL’s best last season.