Maple Leafs’ Anthony Stolarz to back up in Game 7 vs. Panthers

The Toronto Maple Leafs will have a healthy goaltending tandem for the first time since the start of the second round, as Anthony Stolarz will be returning to the lineup on Sunday for Game 7 against the Florida Panthers.

While Stolarz had been the starting goalie for the Maple Leafs’ first round series against the Ottawa Senators and for the start of Game 1 against the Panthers, he will only be serving as the backup, with Joseph Woll getting the start. That decision is likely due to a combination of not wanting to throw Stolarz to the wolves in a do-or-die game, as well as Woll earning the starting gig in Stolarz’s absence, at least until he falters or is injured.

Stolarz had missed the last five games with an upper-body injury, believed to be a concussion but not confirmed, one he sustained during Game 1 against the Panthers. The cause of the injury has been greatly speculated, as he took a couple of shots with the puck to the head during the game, one that broke his helmet, but he also was hit in the head by Sam Bennett. Stolarz was not initially pulled from the game after any of those events, but when he had skated to the bench and vomited, he was pulled from the game.

It was a slight concern when Stolarz was pulled from the game, as had been strong in the playoffs with a 4-2 record, a .901 save percentage and a 4.31 5v5 goals saved above expected. This came after a regular season with a 21-8-3 record, a .926 SV%, 4 shutouts and a 25.89 5v5 GSAx.

However, Woll has been good enough in Stolarz’s absence to get the Leafs to Game 7, with a 3-3 record, an .893 SV%, 1 shutout, and a 5v5 -0.49 GSAx. It shouldn’t be surprising considering he was also really good in the regular season with a 27-14-1 record, a .909 SV%, 1 shutout, and a 13.82 GSAx.