Mark Masters from TSN reported that Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Anthony Stolarz was seen back on the ice this morning before the team’s practice. While there is no specific timeline for his return, this development is a positive sign.
Without sacrificing his long-term well-being, the Maple Leafs should want Stolarz back in the crease sooner rather than later, given the mixed results they’ve received from backup Joseph Woll. Despite winning the first two games of the series he appeared in, Woll only mustered a .875 SV% on 48 shots. Still, in the two most recent games that ended up in losses, Woll had a much improved .904 SV% on 73 shots.
Although anything can change this time of year, there’s little hope Stolarz will return to the Maple Leafs for Game 5. It’ll give Woll another opportunity to prove his worth, and could give Toronto more confidence in not rushing Stolarz back too early.
More notes from the Panthers and Maple Leafs series:
- According to Jameson Olive of the Panthers organization, forward Evan Rodrigues has not been cleared for Game 5. Still, Olive noted that the team has time to decide tomorrow, but the odds aren’t in Rodrigues’ favor after leaving Game 4 early in the third period. Rodrigues left Sunday’s contest after being interfered with by Maple Leafs defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson, a few games after being hit from behind by Toronto forward Scott Laughton, a play in which Rodrigues was given a two-minute embellishment penalty.
- Meanwhile, Ekman-Larsson is expected to play Game 5, despite missing practice today (Tweet Link). Masters followed up his initial report, indicating Ekman-Larsson is dealing with a mild illness, and head coach Craig Berube wanted to prioritize his rest rather than pushing him too far in practice.
This series is a war. Whichever team makes it out might be able to beat Carolina but probably has no chance against the Oilers or Stars in the final.
Carolina looks stronger than both Toronto & Florida. Toronto looks to be joking again & Florida can only take headshots at their opponent to win games. Carolina will probably run through either team. However, it will be either Dallas or Edmonton winning the Cup this year I believe as those 2 teams overall are quite arguably the best in these playoffs but Carolina is making its case for sure.
Correction: Toronto looks to be *choking* again
If they lose it won’t be because they choked like years past. They’ve played differently under the new coach – heavier, more consistent shift to shift, no panic, no cheating for offense. The stars have played well (even though Matthews is obviously not close to 100%, hasn’t been all year). Berube has gotten them to buy in to a style Keefe failed to.
If the Leafs lose, it will be because Florida is just the better team. (and it pains me to type that as much as it pains you to read it)
The Panthers having last change at home made a big difference. The matchups gave them an edge they didn’t have on the road and exposed Domi’s line. Back in T.O. tonight I think the secondary scoring of the Leafs breaks through. And if Woll stops the shots he should, they’ll win.
Says the same guy that the Lightning were gonna win 4 straight so we shall see
I never said the Lightning were going to win 4 straight, that’s a lie. I said the Lightning would win the series (I never gave a prediction in how many games). Unfortunately injuries really piled up at the worst time for them & they didn’t have the puck luck that you need in the playoffs in getting those lucky bounces at times. It is what it is.
Well, 35 minutes into tonight’s game and the Leafs are making me eat my words. The Keefe-era team showed up tonight lmao. Truly dreadful effort.
My correction. It was the other lightning jacka** @ Kucherov that predicted 4 straight. And it wasn’t injuries or puck luck that decided that series. Whether you want to hear it or not but the Panthers have been the better team the last three years.
Pretty pathetic how Toronto went for cheap shot after cheap shot tonight after getting outclassed on the ice. Is @feel the teardrops going to call on the NHL to investigate Domi for his attempted head shot on Bobrovski in the waning minutes. I doubt it. Totally gutless by the Leafs. F##k Canada
lol I think we found “Florida Man.”
@Ourcuprunningoffthemouthagain – Better team? This season Tampa was better than Florida in the majority of the metrics this season. Tampa was favorite going into that series. You can deny it all you want but yes, injuries definitely played a key role in Tampa’s effort in the playoffs & puck luck does play a part in the playoffs more than you think.
As for the Toronto/Florida game, Toronto did look pretty flat tonight. I didn’t see the 3rd period. But hey, if Toronto threw cheap shots at Florida, it’s deserved as Florida plays dirty in taking headshots at opponents all the time & when Florida is losing they are the biggest sore losers. Florida apparently got a taste of their own medicine. I have no sympathy for that conceded jack@$$ team.
@Feel I think we’ve had a dust up or two on this site in the past but I 100% agree with you here. The Panthers have fully embraced being the biggest cheap shot artists/divers/embellishers/you name it in the league. It’s their entire game plan and identity. And they executed it to perfection when Bennett took out the Leafs’ #1 goalie right from the start. Given how Bob is playing and the leaky goals Woll is letting in, it’s going to win them the series. So why stop?
Toronto sucked tonight. Deserved the boos on home ice. I didn’t see anything in the 3rd period to warrant supplemental discipline though. They did nothing the Panthers don’t do after every single whistle.
I thought before that Rollie’s mustache that smelled like ass but maybe it is his breath because there is a lot of S**t spewing out.
@the tears never stop Under those conditions then the Panthers have been the better team the last 4 seasons then since we won the Presidents cup thst season. And as far as cheap shots and dirty tactics go I brought that up just to show how much of a one sided big mouth jack@$$ you are.
@Ourcupisana$$hole – I’m a jack@$$? Look in the mirror stupid @$$ & you’ll see the ultimate jack@$$ who’s also a conceded ignoramus.
Panthers have not been the better team the last 4 seasons WTF are you smoking? They’ve got definitively eliminated by Tampa 4 seasons ago lol. Florida got swept by Vegas for their 1st Cup run. They barely won the Cup against Edmonton in their 2nd Cup run. Tampa this season was statistically better in the majority of metrics than Florida was. Florida just had things fall in their favor with puck luck & injuries having an effect. Florida’s time is nearing.
Simpletons like you forget, Tampa was on top during the flat cap & couldn’t recoup talent for the past few years but with the cap no longer flat this past season & now with the cap rising, Tampa will be back on top in due time.
@Rollie – Honestly mate, I don’t remember if we did & if it was anything, it was probably minor. Disagreements happen sometimes which it is what it is. I just don’t like at all @OurcupisPOS dude but I got no problems with you, we’re cool as far I’m concerned. Glad to hear you agree on Florida’s scumbag tactics & deserve any dirty tactics that comes to them.
@ the tears never stop. I once again need to correct the inaccuracies of your post. 1) By your reckoning the Panthers were the better regular season team four seasons ago (presidents trophy winner) . That is your rational for why your team was better this year despite nearly being swept out of the playoffs. I did not count four years because the Panthers were defeated in the playoffs by the Lightning. 2) Florida was not swept in the Cup by Vegas. 4 games to 1. Injuries played a major role in that series I might add. Does that sound familiar? 3) I think we can both agree that the Panthers were the better team last season as not only did they finish
Higher in the standings but nearly swept your team out of the playoffs. 4) This current season you talk of injuries and puck luck as a reason your team was once again nearly swept out of the playoffs. But I suggest that perhaps you look at the injuries affecting the Panthers down the stretch and maybe realize that without those injuries then Florida once again would finish higher in the regular season. 5) the cap rises for everyone. As long as your team is attached to aging players then your future success isn’t guaranteed. Finally you are a jacka$$.