May 7th: According to a report from Sportsnet, Stolarz will unfortunately be absent from the Maple Leafs’ lineup in Game 2. There’s reportedly no timeline for his recovery, but this could be purposefully vague gamesmanship from Toronto.
May 6th: Anthony Stolarz’s status for Game 2 of the Maple Leafs’ series against the Panthers is uncertain, David Alter of The Hockey News relays from head coach Craig Berube.
That’s better news than most everyone was expecting after reports surfaced last night that Stolarz was taken to the hospital after leaving the game in the second period following multiple instances of head contact. Berube confirmed he was taken to the hospital but is doing well and had breakfast with the team after being discharged overnight. Stolarz was seen vomiting on the Leafs’ bench before being relieved by Joseph Woll, exiting the eventual 5-4 win after taking a puck to the mask in the first and an elbow/forearm from Panthers center Sam Bennett shortly before his departure. Bennett won’t face a suspension for the play, Chris Johnston of TSN and The Athletic relayed this morning.
Berube wouldn’t confirm when asked if Stolarz had been diagnosed with a concussion. While Stolarz may be healthy enough to dress for Game 2, rushing him back from an otherwise exhausting ordeal to start seems unlikely. Woll is among the more formidable backups still alive in the postseason. He allowed three goals on 20 shots in relief but still has a sparkling .924 SV% in eight career playoff appearances for Toronto, including four starts. Woll started 41 of Toronto’s 82 regular-season games and, while his numbers weren’t in Stolarz’s stratosphere, still managed a .909 SV% and saved 16.8 goals above expected, per MoneyPuck.
In any event, simple news of Stolarz’s discharge and a long-term absence not guaranteed is great news after last night’s concern. The 31-year-old has a .901 SV% and a 2.19 GAA through seven games for Toronto in his first postseason (and regular season) as a No. 1 option.
Sam Bennett should be reviewed by the league as his hit to Anthony Stolarz‘s head appeared intentional. Stolarz wasn’t even outside the goalie zone. It’s Florida doing their typical lowball dirty hits, it’s ridiculous.
You know those two players are actually good buddies right? Toronto fans make a big deal about it…but if you actually watch the replay instead of feeling sorry for your team. I can’t see where his hit was really terrible and the league sees the same.
I’m thinking that it was the puck to the head that did it.
First off, Toronto isn’t my team by any means. I don’t like Toronto but I can’t stand the lowball crap Florida pulls constantly. Yes, I know Bennett & Stolarz are “friends” but on the ice that friendship doesn’t mean a thing & Bennett plays dirty & underhanded no matter who it’s against. The fact, Bennett claims he “didn’t know” he hit Stolarz in the head with his arm is a crock. He knew what he’s doing.
Well of course he goes in hard to the net. That’s his job. Just to think that the Flames used to have both Bennett and Tchucky. A couple of the most hated players in the league, yet I tell you now that if they’re on your team? You wouldn’t trade that for almost anything. Right or wrong, they are playoff warriors. Can’t say that about a couple Leafs players. Sorry, I wasn’t insinuating that you were a bona-fide Leaf fan, but took it that you were biased towards them. There are two ways at looking at the story really…I’m just on the side of the Panthers. I am admittedly biased for sure.
“Hard to the net” in this case was weirdly from behind the goalie. But go on….
Behind the goalie? What play were you watching?
Maybe the side, but still driving hard to the net…trying to score.
Tkachuk taking a late run at Marner too as time expires. it’s what the Panthers do you are right. they are a talented squad, but when they get down or frustrated, their go to is intent to injure
Florida did this dirty lowball crap against Tampa & got away with it more than they should have. They’re doing it now against Toronto. I don’t even like Toronto by any means but I’m so fed up with Florida’s dirty tactics. They intentionally try to hurt players because they can’t win otherwise & when they do lose, they’re sore losers.
You need new material loser
@ourfartpisseslosses
You suck
@Ourcupspoutsnonsense – No you ignorant half-wit. If you had an ounce of intelligence, you can see many fans of hockey are calling out Florida for their underhanded tactics. They can’t win without trying to intentionally injure the opponent. They are a goon squad & the league keeps allowing it. It’s B.S.
You’re only annoyed by what I’m saying because you’re a fan of that crap smug organization. An organization that’s had only a few good years but have been a basement dwelling organization the majority of its existence.
Maybe Toronto should start playing like that. Then maybe they will finally do something worth-while in the playoffs. Hasn’t Florida proven that their tactics and being a little “dirty” as you put it, proved that maybe you need to do that some. Do you not remember when Florida was just like Toronto? Huby and company tearing up the league. Just not in the playoffs. Then remember when they changed their tactics and personnel to become…this team. You can’t tell me it doesn’t work.
Weigh it out man. Just sayin…
He is not capable of seeing anything through any lense other than his Tampa Bay Lightning delusion. He is just mad that the Panthers just punched his team in the mouth for the second consecutive year and they have little hope of reversing their fate in the coming years. The Lightning are soft and that doesn’t play in the playoffs. @Feel the teardrops is a little girl crying “they should play fair” Dry up the tears snowflake
By the way F u
The glory days of your beloved Lightning are over. They are an ok team now, but no where near the Panthers. Just lick your wounds and hope for better results next year…or the year after…or the year after…or……………….
@ourcupasspiss you’re spare parts, basic.
@Ourcupisfullofshit – You’re not capable of showing any sign of intelligence. You’re an ignorant blowhard. You’re celebrating these past 2 years of the kitties beating Tampa, big whoop (eyes roll), Tampa has dominated the kitties for the majority of their existence. Don’t you worry dumbass, Tampa will topple Florida much sooner than you think. Doubting Tampa not overcoming an issue is a mistake, Tampa’s history has proven they will & you can take that up your f***** a$$, you concede p***k.
@HickeySenseNot – Doubting Tampa is an ignorant mistake on your part but since you’re a Florida fan that speaks volumes. People doubted Tampa from 2016-2018, Tampa will overcome this small hurdle as their history has proven that repeatedly that they’ll breakthrough the glass ceiling. The Panthers are not a superior team by any means lol. Tampa finished better than them this season in the majority of the metrics. Tampa unfortunately just had injuries pile up just when the playoffs started but Florida has to play dirty & take cheap shots to intentionally injure the opponent to win games. They’re goons & there time is coming to an end sooner than you think.
P.S. @HockeySenseNot – “Huby and company tearing up the league”? LOL! They didn’t tear up anything. Florida historically has been a losing franchise the majority of their 30 plus years of existence. These past 2 & a half years is the most “success” this franchise has had since their brief stint in the 90s lol. They’ve won 1 Cup & they barely won it (it helps when refs favor yeah & call penalties at crucial moments) much less an opponent won the Conn Smythe during their win lol (that speaks volumes). Florida will fade sooner rather than later & go back to being obsolete again.
I’m actually a Flames fan…so hating the Lightning is in my DNA. “It was in!!”
You forget the early early days of the franchises when Tampa sucked for many years and Florida actually made it to the cup early in existence. You only remember what you want to remember.
Any team that has ex-flames blowing up the Lightning…makes me a fan.
Do you even know what the game of hockey is? What the game is all about? Did you even watch that Blues-Jets series? Your team was was soft this year…so just own it.
Florida won the Presidents trophy being one of the highest offensive teams in history. They realized that being a regular season juggernaut doesn’t win cups. So they changed their coach and personnel to win in the playoffs. How is that a bad thing? They haven’t circumvented the salary or relied on an empty arena with no opposing fans to win. Now they are being exposed.
@HockeySenseNot – First off, I did mention Florida’s stint in making it to the cup in the 90s as that was their only appearance until recently. Yes, I know Tampa wasn’t good in their early days, particularly the 90s but they turned things around and became the 2nd most successful franchise in their first 30 years behind only the Detroit Red Wings. I can understand you not liking Tampa being a Calgary fan because Calgary got beat by them in the 2003 Stanley Cup championship (I guess it still stings for yeah).
Yes, Florida changed their coach & personnel & became a dirty & cheap shot playing team. There is one thing of being a physical team & playoffs are physical which is fine but it’s an entire different story when a team tries to intentionally try to hurt the opponent like Florida tries to do with teams (& many hockey fans of all types are calling them out on their shady & underhanded tactics. Yes, you’re correct in Florida being exposed). Also, when Florida loses they are sore losers about it & there is many examples of them acting like sore losers. Also, you mentioned Bennett & Tkachuk being 2 of the most hated players, yes, they are because they play dirty & underhanded as that’s not something to be proud of. Tkachuk is also one of the most arrogant players & sore losers in the league. Can’t stand that POS.
All I can say is REEVES . Police your own s**t don’t let the NHL do it..
That leads to taking garbage penalties this year cause officiating has been spotty at best
Correct like the slash and trip at the other end of the ice against Reinhart on the Knies goal to make it 5-3. Shouldn’t have happened. Panthers still take it in 6
Panthers are easily one of the dirtiest teams in the league, and I absolutely hate the Leafs. Pathetic that Bettman doesn’t give a s*** about player safety as long as his bottom line isn’t impacted.
All of the comments about the Panthers are true but the NHL’s complete inability and unwillingness to police player conduct on the ice and postgame are why players feel free to take these types of liberties on the ice.
One would think that owners would demand the elimination of head-first contact hits. They have many millions invested in these guys, and to see a star player, or even one of the very good ones, get taken out of a game (or worse) because of these dirty hits has to piss them off.
Agreed on taking liberties. But at this point it’s not an inability by the league to do something – they see everything that’s going on and make the conscious decision to allow it.
Dirty play is something they like. They clearly see value in having a team in the league that’s full of rats like the Panthers. And they see value in that team succeeding, even at the expense of cheap shots taking out other teams’ stars.
I say this with confidence because the people in the league office are not stupid, and they could put an end to it immediately if they wanted to. But they don’t, and that speaks volumes about their priorities. Head contact, CTE, player safety, etc. are merely inconvenient PR hassles, not priorities. They never will be to the Bettman administration.
Rollie’s mustache smells like a**
Oh, I didn’t realize they let 5 year olds register accounts here.
Wow, epic blast Rollie. You sure got him with that one.
Who are you?
Everything going exactly to plan. Knock out a guy here, severely limit a few more,and Florida moves on while playing the victim the whole time.
Let’s do another Florida goon squad vs Vegas LTIR final, it’ll do so much for the league.
You seem too thin skinned and offended. Take the rest of the season off.
Take cover, Anthony! Sam Bennett’s coming in for another strafing run!
I still remwmber when all leafs fans were bitching about nylanders new contract being way too much… you guys don’t make it out of the first round with out him.. and by the looks of it hes the only superstar that’s showing up in the second round.. if im the panthers im focusing on nylander more then stolarz. Matthews snd marner have a history of disappearing in the playoffs so instead of trying to take “runs” at them focus on “hitting” and disrupting nylanders.
On a side note knies.. the dude eill get paid will he be the next one yo price himself out of toronto?