Leafs-Panthers: Anthony Stolarz’s streak looks over (and Joseph Woll will have to be better)

In the first game of the series between the Maple Leafs and the Panthers, Anthony Stolarz fell victim to… Sam Bennett. The Panthers forward, who has a reputation for being a bit vicious, elbowed the Leafs‘ goalie in the head, and the Leafs’ goalie was stunned.

Stolarz was seen vomiting on the bench… and hasn’t been seen since.

Stolarz was pulled after this collision with Bennett https://t.co/Xns4P1VzVd pic.twitter.com/CxWuBJlFW6
– B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) May 6, 2025

The Leafs ‘ #1 goalie didn’t even make the trip to Florida, and this morning we learned from Craig Berube that Stolarz hasn’t even started skating yet.

So, according to Joshua Kloke (The Athletic), Stolarz’s streak appears to be over. The chances of seeing him again against the Panthers “are starting to look slim”.

Update from Florida on Anthony Stolarz: the likelihood of the Maple Leafs starting goalie returning this series is starting to feel low: https://t.co/5dR699B66O
– Joshua Kloke (@joshuakloke) May 10, 2025

Obviously, this isn’t ideal for the Maple Leafs, who would certainly have preferred to retain the services of their starting goalie. But it also means that we now need Joseph Woll, who was in net for the last two games of the series, to step up.

Because if the Leafs are to win, Woll will have to be better than he was yesterday. Finishing a game with an efficiency rate above .900 would be no luxury, let’s say.

Joseph Woll’s save percentages
Game 1: .850
Game 2: .893
Game 3: .861
Craig Berube: “I thought he was really good. I don’t love the fourth goal. But other than that, I thought he was solid.”
– luke fox (@lukefoxjukebox) May 10, 2025

Yesterday, Woll looked weak in front of some of the Panthers’ shots (the overtime goal was particularly ordinary), but we’re still talking about a goalie who’s had some good times in the NHL. If he can’t regain his confidence soon, the guys in front of him will start to feel it… and the repeated playoff failures of recent years may come back to haunt them.

But for now, the Leafs need to focus on the fact that they still lead the series 2-1 and that now is not the time to feel sorry for themselves… even if it is frustrating to see that Bennett wasn’t punished for an action that could cost the team’s #1 goalie the entire series.

Overtime

– NHL schedule for the evening.

Couple of big Game 3’s tonight…

You may also like

part 2 | Habs’ 2nd center: Horvat, Larkin, Zacha or O’Reilly?

Sean Farrell: Pascal Vincent has made him worthwhile again

– The @Canes look to get back in the win column as the series heads to Carolina.
– Calvin Pickard and the @EdmontonOilers will search for their SEVENTH straight win.
The #StanleyCup Playoffs continue TONIGHT at 6p ET on @NHL_On_TNT,… pic.twitter.com/Svq9R6af7H
– NHL (@NHL) May 10, 2025

– Can the Jets believe it?

Five reasons to believe Winnipeg’s 4-0 Game 2 win is the start of a dangerous #NHLJets run https://t.co/8uhZU7iSZw
– Murat Ates (@WPGMurat) May 10, 2025

– Bobby Orr’s famous goal is 55 years old today.

On this day 55 years ago (May 10th, 1970), Bobby Orr scored his famous Stanley Cup winning goal as the Bruins beat the Blues 4-3 in OT.
(H/T: @CBSSports) pic.twitter.com/zkGnVaQ12v
– TSN (@TSN_Sports) May 10, 2025

– There are some great names on this list.

Here are the players selected for the NHL Quarter Century Team, with players who began their careers after 2010 https://t.co/HY2 MKuVHLP pic.twitter.com/ztT2akA0rE
– NHL (@NHL_EN) May 10, 2025

– Derek Carr announces his retirement. His shoulder is seriously banged up.

Four-time Pro Bowl QB Derek Carr is retiring, sources tell The Insiders.
Dealing with a shoulder injury that threatened his season with the #Saints, Carr walks away at age 34. pic.twitter.com/9Gef6y75pd
– Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) May 10, 2025

– Too bad.

Auger-Aliassime withdraws from Romehttps://t.co/eg500dJ0GY
– RDS (@RDSca) May 10, 2025