May 5, 2025; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs forward John Tavares (91) and goaltender Joseph Woll (60) celebrate a win over the Florida Panthers in game one of the second round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn ImagesIt was not how Joseph Woll wanted to make his 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs debut.
The Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender was thrust into duty in the second period after starting goaltender Anthony Stolarz got sick during a television timeout. The incident occurred approximately 10 minutes after Florida Panthers forward Sam Bennett appeared to hit Stolarz in the head with an elbow.
"I don't like that, of course. When you see your teammate go down like that, it's not good,: Woll said of Stolarz. "These guys are trying to create a family atmosphere in here, so it's just like one of your family members."
Woll, inheriting a 4-1 lead, was tested early and the Panthers certainly made things interesting with a pair of goals that cut Toronto's lead 4-3. Woll could have wilted. But he went on to make 17 saves and Matthew Knies got some insurance with a breakaway goal late in the third period to help Toronto defeat Florida 5-4 in Game 1 of their second-round playoff matchup.
Woll's teammates didn't feel any difference between the pipes.
"I think it's no shock to the guys in the locker room how he can step in and bring us a win," Matthew Knies said of Woll." I think he's been an incredible goalie. He stepped up every time we've asked him to. He's done a great job. It's not shocking to me at all that he did so well.:
Woll certainly has playoff numbers to back up his play. And while he started in more games than Stolarz during the regular season, it was the latter that got the nod to be the starter for the playoffs.
As the Leafs pursue a deep playoff run, it's not a shock that at some point the Leafs would see Woll. And now with reports that Stolarz had to go to hospital to be evaluated further, it's likely we see more of Woll in the short term.
"It's a tough situation for sure, especially in a playoff game with this magnitude and everything. So, you know, he handled it well, I thought," Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube said of Woll. "Listen, we got the win.
Woll picked up his eighth career playoff victory in eight appearances and has posted a .924 save percentage in that span.
Summary of Woll's playoff experience:
2023 Playoffs: Woll appeared in 4 games, starting 2. He had a record of 1-2 with a .915 save percentage and a 2.43 goals-against average.
2024 Playoffs: Woll played in 3 games, subbing in after Ilya Samsonov started in goal for Toronto to begin the postseason. In two starts, Woll went 2-0 with a .964 save percentage, and a 0.86 goals-against average.
Woll's win on Monday was his first playoff victory in a non-elimination game.
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