Anthony Stolarz hospitalized after taking puck to the throat in warmups as Leafs face nightmare emergency

After initially appearing to favor his hand, the Leafs confirmed Anthony Stolarz was rushed to local hospital for precautionary imaging after taking a puck to the throat during warmups.

There is going to be an update later regarding Stolarz once the Maple Leafs get an update but it's a scary sight nonetheless.

Instead, Joseph Woll will start after coming off a 32-save effort against the Carolina Hurricanes and also a day after Craig Berube threw him under the bus saying he needed to make a save.

He'll have plenty of chances against a strong Ottawa team who is looking to prove captain Brady Tkachuk's words right and show Toronto they are a softer team.

With that being said, the fire the Maple Leafs had will not include Michael Pezzetta as he was scratched ahead of the game, though the rest of the team is doing a fair job at bringing the violence.

Max Domi and Shane Pinto got into a bit of a scrap, meanwhile Oliver Ekman-Larsson boarded Claude Giroux; so things are already heated through one period of
play.

Dylan Holloway suffered a similar injury last season when he tried to block a shot and got caught high in the throat, though was able to return a few days later meanwhile Colin Miller got a shot in the throat which led to a fractured larynx.

But now is the time for Dennis Hildeby to step up, and not only do so in a back-up role but take the reins as a starter and run with it. He's been rock-solid this season with a 2.90 GAA and .910 SV% and looked less a sophomore and more a seasoned vet.

With questions about Stolarz's injury status, Hildeby needs to take charge and prove to the Maple Leafs that he and Woll are the solution for the future, and make him expendable.

Doing so would also allow the Maple Leafs to trade Stolarz to a team who could use him while also bringing back either more draft capital or finding that new defenceman or top-six forward.

If he can show management that he can be relied on, and with Artur Akhtyamov in tow just waiting to show his talents as well, there is a great hope for Toronto's goaltending pipeline.

The opportunity is there for Dennis Hildeby, he just needs to reach out and grab it.

More details to come.

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Maple Leafs face last-minute goalie uncertainty as Anthony Stolarz confirmed out