Woll has been out of the lineup all season with groin tightness.
Woll has been out of the lineup all season with groin tightness.
As the Toronto Maple Leafs prepare for back-to-back games, there’s news that Joseph Woll may finally be ready to make his season debut.
During his pre-game media availability ahead of their matchup against the Tampa Bay Lightning, Leafs head coach Craig Berube mentioned that Woll is a possibility to start when the team visits the Columbus Blue Jackets on Tuesday, the second game of the back-to-back.
"It's possible, yes," Berube said.
Woll has been practicing regularly with the Maple Leafs over the past week and spoke about the "groin tightness" he experienced before the season opener. However, he declined to provide details on how the injury occurred. The goaltender was expected to start in the club’s first game of the season against the Montreal Canadiens, but on the morning of the game, it was announced that Woll was unavailable and later placed on injured reserve.
During Toronto’s first set of back-to-back games, prospect goaltender Dennis Hildeby made his NHL debut, stopping 21 of 23 shots in a 4-2 win over the New Jersey Devils on Oct. 10.
Given Toronto's depth in goal, there has been no rush to bring Woll back quickly. Additionally, Woll has had a history of injuries during his time with the Leafs, and the team wants to ensure he has fully recovered.
Anthony Stolarz has performed well in Woll’s absence and is expected to make his fifth start of the season when the Maple Leafs host the Lightning on Monday. The 30-year-old Stolarz has posted an impressive .937 save percentage through four games.
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