Stolarz was already ruled out for this weekend's games but will also not be available for Toronto's game against the Dallas Stars on Dec. 18.
The Toronto Maple Leafs have placed goaltender Anthony Stolarz on injured reserve following a lower-body injury sustained against the Anaheim Ducks on December 12.
Head coach Craig Berube had already ruled Stolarz out for the weekend games against the Detroit Red Wings and Buffalo Sabres. This roster move mandates a minimum seven-day absence, retroactive to his last game, making Stolarz unavailable for an upcoming road game against the Dallas Stars on December 18. His earliest potential return is December 20 against the Buffalo Sabres.
"We'll get an update on that in a couple of days on that, alright?" Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube said when asked about the goaltender's status. "I'm not really going to comment on that right now."
The exact moment of injury during Toronto's 3-2 win over the Ducks is unclear, though speculation suggests it may have occurred when he flexed his knee after allowing Anaheim's first goal. The 30-year-old goaltender, who signed a two-year, $5 million contract with the Maple Leafs in the summer, has been among the NHL's top performers this season, boasting a 9-5-2 record with a .927 save percentage.
The Maple Leafs describe Stolarz as day-to-day, noting they received "good news" regarding the injury's severity, without providing specifics.
Stolarz has appeared in 17 games this season, 11 shy of his career high of 28 with the Ducks during the 2021-22 season. In his absence, Joseph Woll is expected to assume the primary goaltending duties. Woll made 22 saves on 25 shots in a 4-2 loss to the Detroit Red Wings on Saturday. Dennis Hildeby was called up following Stolarz's injury and is anticipated to make his third NHL start on Sunday when the Leafs host the Sabres, given the back-to-back game schedule.
Stolarz has a history of knee injuries, including surgeries in 2017 to repair a medial collateral ligament tear in his right knee and a torn left meniscus, which caused him to miss significant playing time. Additionally, he suffered a lower-body injury in December 2018, sidelining him for a month. More recently, in May 2021, Stolarz sustained an ankle injury during the IIHF World Championship, which prevented him from participating in the remainder of the tournament.