THN Florida caught up with Stolarz for a goalie-to-goalie chat ahead of the Stanley Cup Final

Life as a backup goalie isn't always easy.

Playing goaltender in the NHL is one of the most difficult positions to succeed at in all of pro sports, but being the backup means working with additional challenges that make your job even harder.

You can go weeks without seeing any game time but then get thrown into a nightmare situation at a moment's notice.

Additionally, the backup goalie must always be ready to play at the top of their game. Coming off the bench cold and without proper warmup isn't an excuse that's going to fly.

For Florida Panthers backup goalie Anthony Stolarz, the task of finding success in a difficult role hasn't seemed nearly as challenging as it has for the majority of his counterparts.

Stolarz was one of the NHL's top goaltenders, starting or backup, during the regular season. In 27 appearances, he skated to a 16-7-2 record while recording a stellar .925 save percentage and tidy 2.03 goals against average.

The 30-year-old veteran of 108 NHL games has yet to play in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

If all goes according to plan, he won't play in a playoff game this season either.

The Panthers are four wins away from winning the Stanley Cup for the first time in franchise history.

On Wednesday, I sat down with Stolarz for a goalie-to-goalie chat about life as a backup during a run to the Stanley Cup Final.

THN Florida: Have you made any adjustments to your practice routine at all during the playoffs?

Anthony Stolarz: The practice routine has been pretty simple. When the series starts, we’ll kind of keep it short, keep it light. We have a lot of recovery days, so you get the brunt of the work during morning skate, and Tally (Panthers Goaltending Coach Robb Tallas) does a good job to mix in and incorporate some drills that are game-like with the extra guys that we have. We’ll play a little bit of 2-on-2 or 3-on-3 just to get a little competitive, get the heart rate up a little bit. But this isn't something that I'm not used to. I did the COVID year for five-six months that I was not playing a game. I have to actually thank that experience for getting me to be able to get through this stretch, knowing what I need to stay sharp.

THN: Does the mental challenge of being the backup goalie become more difficult during the playoffs? You know if your number gets called, it instantly becomes the biggest game of your life.

AS: I’m a pretty calm guy. If I get thrown in there, it's going to be a business as usual kind of thing. The ice is the same size and the goals are the same size, so, at the end of the day, you just go out there and enjoy yourself. Cherish the moment if you get thrown in there and just do whatever you can to stop the puck and keep your guys in the game.

THN: What's it been like riding the emotions of a Stanley Cup Final run that you've had a front row seat for?

AS: It's been a lot of fun working with these guys for nine months and seeing what you build towards. Just being on the bench, seeing up close how physical, how passionate and competitive it is, it's a whole 'nother level. Obviously we beat three very good teams and we have one more left, so it's been a hell of a ride so far, and hopefully we keep this going.

THN: A video popped up this week showing Paul Maurice mic'd up on the bench during Game 6 against the Rangers. Are there any bench moments, Maurice-related or otherwise, that stand out from the playoff run so far?

AS: I don't really hear him because I'm usually on the end and he's in the middle, so I get to miss all that. Just in terms of being on the bench, I just try to keep it light. We have a lot of guys who ask questions on the other goalies, so if there's anything that I can help them out with or kind of give them little pointers here or there, little goalie tendencies, I try to do that and just try to be upbeat regardless of what's going on in the game and just be a good teammate. It's a seven game series, so whether you're up big, down big, close game, you just want to try to sit there and support the guys.

THN: Is it a good feeling when a tip you give a guy pays off, like telling someone to go glove side and then they score there?

AS: I'm waiting for that. I’m waiting for my special shout out in an interview, so hopefully one of these guys can get one here pretty soon.

THN: Obviously when you're playing you have different rituals and routines that you'll do before and during the game, but what about when you're on the bench, is there anything that you do every game?

AS: Just handshakes with the coaches, sniffers before the game, Mikksie (Niko Mikkola) and I got our little handshake – we’re the two tallest guys so we just try to get as high as we can – just little things like that. We just try to keep the same routine, guys have their own thing, just try to keep it light on there.

THN: Some players need to stay laser focused during a game, but there are times I see you down there chatting with the trainers, interacting with fans, tossing a puck to a kid. How much do you appreciate those parts of the game?

AS: I do enjoy that. It's just nice if you have a moment – obviously you have to pick your spots accordingly – but if there's a moment where I can go in the back and get a puck, or if someone has a broken stack and I can give it to them and make that fan’s day, for me that's an important part of the game. And you know, as the backup goalie, what else do you got going on? You get to interact with fans, have a little fun, and I'm sure they appreciate it as well.

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