James Guillory-Imagn Images [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/2ae508e0-e6d4-4872-9cc3-dd865666d736.jpeg] James Guillory-Imagn Images Anthony Stolarz is not anyone’s idea of a prototypical “No. 1 goalie.” But for the second straight year, he has arguably been one of the best at his position. And yet, he probably won’t even receive a single Vezina Trophy vote. That’s fine. The 31-year-old journeyman is used to being overlooked and under-appreciated. Until recently, he’s never been a starter. Two years ago, the Toronto Maple Leafs goalie [http://thn.com/toronto] was barely even a backup. This is Stolarz’s fifth NHL team in eight seasons. Last year, he led the NHL with a .925 save percentage and then helped Florida [http://thn.com/florida] win its first Stanley Cup. As with most pending UFAs coming off a championship, Stolarz then hit the open market looking for a big payday. But despite his stats and his championship pedigree, Stolarz more or less settled for a two-year deal with Toronto for $5-million, where he was supposed to share the net with Joseph Woll. Woll is being paid more — and has played more than Stolarz — but he hasn't necessarily been better. Few have this year. This season, Stolarz went 21-8-3 with a 2.14 GAA and a .926 save percentage. Only Connor Hellebuyck and Darcy Kuemper have allowed fewer goals per game. 'It's Going To Be A Blood Bath': Maple Leafs Are Ready For Senators In First Round Of Playoffs After Clinching Atlantic Division [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/8069bd42-48a3-4779-a60b-e5fe9296787f.jpeg] 'It's Going To Be A Blood Bath': Maple Leafs Are Ready For Senators In First Round Of Playoffs After Clinching Atlantic Division Toronto has clinched the division title for the first time since the 1999-00 season. [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs/latest-news/its-going-to-be-a-blood-bath-maple-leafs-are-ready-for-senators-in-first-round-of-playoffs-after-clinching-atlantic-division] Coming into the season, this was supposed to be Woll’s breakout year — not Stolarz’s . A month ago, most had assumed Woll would be in net for Game 1 of the playoffs. But that’s no longer the case. Stolarz’s play in the final weeks of the season has been impossible to ignore. In his past eight starts, Stolarz is 8-0 with three shutouts and a .950 save percentage. Woll, meanwhile, has lost three of his past five starts, allowing 14 goals in that span. As a backup option, Woll is better than most teams have. But this is now Stolarz's net. And this is now where Toronto has the edge in the playoffs. In a division that includes Tampa Bay's [http://thn.com/tampabay]Andrei Vasilevskiy, Florida's Sergei Bobrovsky and Ottawa [http://thn.com/ottawa]'s Linus Ullmark — whom Toronto will face in the first round [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/ottawa-senators/latest-news/senators-lose-to-blackhawks-4-3-in-overtime-first-round-battle-of-ontario-now-official] — that's really saying something. > "It'll be fun for sure. I think they're a hungry team. They haven't made the > playoffs in a couple years here," Stolarz said. "We feel good about our game > and it's going to be a blood bath; it's going to be a little bit of a war, so > we'll be ready." - Anthony Stolarz on facing the Ottawa Senators<br> So what if Stolarz's career playoff experience is limited to just under 35 minutes? The last — and only — time that Stolarz appeared in a playoff game was in last year’s Stanley Cup final, when the then-Panthers goalie came in for some mop-up duty in a 8-1 blowout loss in Game 4. Now, Toronto's playoff hopes rest with him. And it's about time. “(He) has a good chance to be that goalie for that organization that they’ve needed," Panthers [http://thn.com/florida] winger Sam Reinhart said of Stolarz. "It’s something that’s deserved through a lot of hard work.” ‘(He) Has A Good Chance To Be That Goalie For That Organization That They’ve Needed’: Panthers' Sam Reinhart Has High Expectations for Maple Leafs Goaltender Anthony Stolarz in Toronto [https://cdn.jwplayer.com/v2/media/w3cDuSIB/poster.jpg?width=720] ‘(He) Has A Good Chance To Be That Goalie For That Organization That They’ve Needed’: Panthers' Sam Reinhart Has High Expectations for Maple Leafs Goaltender Anthony Stolarz in Toronto Reinhart and Stolarz were teammates during the 2023-24 season, where they won the Stanley Cup with the Panthers. [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs/latest-news/he-has-a-good-chance-to-be-that-goalie-for-that-organization-that-theyve-needed-panthers-sam-reinhart-has-high-expectations-for-maple-leafs-goaltender-anthony-stolarz-in-toronto]
