This will be Stolarz’s third start in four games since the 4 Nations Face-Off ended.
Anthony Stolarz will start in goal on Friday when the Toronto Maple Leafs take the ice against the New York Rangers.
The 31-year-old gets his third start since the 4 Nations Face-Off break concluded last week. He’s appeared in two of Toronto’s three games after returning, allowing seven goals on 71 shots against the Carolina Hurricanes and Boston Bruins.
” (Joseph) Woll’s a little under the weather,” Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube said, regarding why Stolarz is starting against the Rangers.
Woll was last in net for Toronto’s 5-2 win on Sunday over the Chicago Blackhawks, where he stopped 25 of 27 shots. The 26-year-old has 20 wins and a .910 save percentage through 31 games this season.
Stolarz, however, has a .926 save percentage — tied with Connor Hellebuyck for the best among NHL goaltenders who’ve played 10 or more games this season — and 12 wins through 20 games.
Including Friday’s matchup against the Rangers, 24 games remain in the regular season. At some point, the Maple Leafs will need to decide who starts the first game of the playoffs — unless they use both goalies.
Berube is a coach who likes to take things one day at a time and doesn’t look too far into the future. However, after Friday’s morning skate, Toronto’s head coach admitted that one netminder usually takes the reins once the postseason begins.
“I think going into the playoffs, it’s normally one guy that’s going to take control of it in goal and see where he’s at. Sometimes you gotta make switches, which I’ve done in the past,” Berube said.
“There’s always things you’re going to have to change, but I think going into the playoffs you want one guy being ready to take it.”
Whether it’s Stolarz or Woll in net for Game 1 of the playoffs, which is still a few months away, the Maple Leafs are in good hands. Toronto has a plethora of goaltenders, something they haven’t had in quite a while.
Who do you think starts in Game 1 of the playoffs — Woll or Stolarz?
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