Craig Berube Fulfills Maple Leafs Goaltender Wish Ahead of St. Louis Blues Rematch

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Chris Gerics
November 2, 2024 (3:40 PM)

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Craig Berube decided to name Joseph Woll the starter for tonight's game against St. Louis, fulfilling his wish for a hometown start in front of family and friends.

The Toronto Maple Leafs are riding a bit of momentum coming into St. Louis after two dominant wins over Winnipeg and Seattle. Backed by a rejuvenated John Tavares on a new line with William Nylander and Max Pacioretty, Toronto looks like they did at the beginning of the year as the team looks to get things figured out.

One thing they still need to figure out is their goaltending situation, but at least for tonight, the Leafs have their man. Craig Berube named Joseph Woll the starter for the game against St. Louis, and in doing so ensured Woll will have a memorable homecoming:

It's a great sign that Berube trusts Woll enough to go for a second start in a row, as he tries to get the original Maple Leafs starter back into form. He was rusty in his first game, however, turned it around with a stellar performance against the Seattle Kraken, only letting in one goal which he was completely helpless to save.

Toronto can certainly use the Woll of old, as the tandem with him and Anthony Stolarz could be one of the best duos in the entire NHL. Given he's been brilliant most of his time with Toronto but being beset by a bevy of injuries, Woll's key to success is more about staying healthy than any statistical number; we know what he's capable of but he needs to be on the ice for it to happen.

It also gives Woll more confidence when he gets into games at home, as the goaltender recently partnered with charity to donate after every home win and letting him build up momentum will pay off not only for the Maple Leafs but for the community as well, so it's a definitive win-win.

We'll have to see if Joseph Woll stays calm under pressure or if the fact he's playing in front of family will affect him. However, one thing is for certain: Joseph Woll might be back, and it might be bad news for the rest of the league.

Toronto faces off against https://www.nhl.com/blues/ at the Enterprise Center in St, Louis, Missouri. The puck drops at 7 PM ET.