Anthony Stolarz not expected to join Maple Leafs for Game 6

While progress is being made, there’s still no sign for one of the Toronto Maple Leafs’ netminders to return to action.

When speaking to the media on Thursday, head coach Craig Berube was asked whether goaltender Anthony Stolarz would be traveling with the team down to the Sunshine State for Game 6 of the Atlantic Division Final against the Florida Panthers.

The Stanley Cup-winning bench boss didn’t sound optimistic about the prospect of the veteran joining the team for its do-or-die game on Friday.

“I doubt it,” Berube said.

Stolarz has been absent from the series since suffering an injury in Game 1 after being bumped in the head by Panthers forward Sam Bennett. Some speculate the root of the ailment came from Stolarz taking a puck off the mask in the first period of the series opener, eventually leading to the 31-year-old exiting Scotiabank Arena on a stretcher and being taken to a nearby hospital for evaluation.

The Maple Leafs haven’t confirmed what Stolarz injured. He has been progressing, skating on his own and getting some work with some of the call-ups from the Toronto Marlies on Thursday morning.

Since Stolarz’s departure, Joseph Woll has regained the reins as the starting goaltender for Toronto. He ended up grabbing the wins in the first and second games of the set, and played well for the most part in Games 3 and 4, which the Panthers won to tie the series.

Unfortunately, things went bad for Woll and the Leafs in Game 5. They were manhandled by the defending Stanley Cup champions, losing 6-1, putting Toronto on the brink of elimination for the first time in these playoffs. This has led to some speculation on whether Berube would turn to veteran Matt Murray for Game 6 or maybe even call in the services of young Dennis Hildeby.

Puck drop for Friday night’s clash is set for a little after 8 p.m. ET.