Since returning from injury, Maple Leafs netminder Anthony Stolarz has had a concerning run of games which needs to be addressed before the playoffs commence.
One of the better signings from this past summer's free agency frenzy, Anthony Stolarz has had a terrific first season with the Toronto Maple Leafs as he played a major role in the team's early success this season.
Unfortunately, Stolarz was forced to miss nearly 2 months of game action due to a knee injury, in which Joseph Woll was tasked to play the lion's share of games until his eventual return.
The issue has become rather apparent because in his 8 games since coming back from injury, he doesn't look as sharp as he did to begin the season and with the schedule getting more and more congested before the playoffs start, the Leafs need Stolarz to return to the norm.
His 4-2-1 record is solid but he's posted a .904 SV% and has allowed 22 goals in those 8 games. Take out the 2 wins he got at the beginning and he's posted a .893 SV% while allowing 3 goals per game.
There was assuredly going to be some rust in his return and it also coincided with the 4-Nations Face-Off because his first game back was right before the break. Nevertheless he just hasn't looked as sharp especially over his last 3 games, all of which came against top tier clubs including the Florida Panthers.
Former NHL goaltender Stephen Valiquette talked about Stolarz's struggles on 'The Real Kyper and Bourne' show and believes that there are a few things he needs to shore up to get back to status quo:
'What I saw in that game, and the two previous games as well, he's getting himself into trouble because he's getting wide before the shot and when he gets wide, his shoulders come down and he doesn't track towards where the puck is coming from.Even a big goalie can play small that way. Stolarz, for first half of the season, he was really strong on his feet, being able to beat the pass on his feet, being able to have a big body posture.'
The panic button does not need to be pressed right at this moment but at some point in time, Stolarz needs to get back to his early season success where he posted a scintillating .927 SV% and a GAA just north of 2.00 across 17 games.
The Maple Leafs have been alternating their starting goaltenders since his return and that trend should continue with important games coming up against the likes of Florida, Colorado, New York Rangers, Los Angeles, Columbus, and Tampa Bay.
However, if he continues to struggle, perhaps the Maple Leafs lean more towards Woll with the playoffs right around the corner and the team needing to choose one or the other ahead of Game 1 of the post-season.
Woll has been lights out in 'clutch time' situations this season, and is the only NHL goaltender who has not allowed a single goal in the final 5 minutes of regulation and overtime when the game is either tied or within a 1-goal margin.
Barring a major change in effectiveness from Stolarz, Woll may emerge as the team's starter ahead of the postseason, and it would certainly be deserved.
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