Toronto Maple Leafs Make A Costly Mistake That Backfires With Goaltender Anthony Stolarz
The Maple Leafs lost Anthony Stolarz to an injury on Thursday but it may have been avoided had Toronto stuck to their original game plan.
When Anthony Stolarz suffered a lower-body injury during Toronto's game against the Anaheim Ducks on Thursday, fans held their breath as they waited to hear the diagnosis of their star goaltender.
It seems to be good news so far, and Stolarz is only expected to be out day-to-day. Fans breathed a sigh of relief as Toronto shouldn't be without him for too long.
Toronto Could Have Had Stolarz Healthy
Though, the Maple Leafs could have avoided this injury in the first place if they had stuck to their original gameplan, which would have seen Joseph Woll take the start instead.
While yes, it's not automatic to say that Woll would not have gotten injured as well, the fact that Stolarz was just coming off his best game, and an exhausting one at that; it's surprising Craig Berube went back to him.
You have to ride the hot hand for sure, but it wasn't like Woll was struggling or unable to do well against the lowly Ducks.
He sports an 8-3-0 record with a 2.16 GAA and .921 SV%, which is just as good as Stolarz this year.
Toronto will now need to rely on Woll and rookie Dennis Hildeby who had a short stint at the beginning of the season with Woll being injured. He went 1-1-0 with a 4.03 GAA and .869 SV%, but did win his NHL debut.
The fact Stolarz will miss a minimal amount of time is huge news, as the potential Vezina Trophy winner has a 9-5-2 record with a 2.15 GAA and .927 SV%; often being the standout performer in the Maple Leafs' victories.
Toronto has a bit of a break when it comes to who they play next though, but it's still tough given it's a back to back.
First they play away vs. Detroit on Saturday night before they head back home to face the Buffalo Sabres on Sunday.
Both teams are in the basement of the Atlantic Division, and the one bright spot of Toronto's misery with Stolarz out.
With the Leafs hoping their netminder isn't out too long, they can at least take solace in the fact they have a good chance at coming away with at least one victory, although Buffalo has always given them a run for their money.
