Joseph Woll didn’t have much to say following the Toronto Maple Leafs’ 5-4 overtime loss in Game 3 to the Florida Panthers. Yes, the bounces leaned Florida’s way and Woll made 31 saves on 36 shots for a .861 save percentage, but it was the moments outside his crease, especially behind the net, where the 26-year-old looked most vulnerable. 

The Panthers exposed that side of his game as part of their own typical set play with a relentless dump-and-chase attack, often rimming the puck hard around the boards and sending two forecheckers to pressure Toronto on the weak side.

“They rim the puck a lot,” said Woll post-game. “So, I’m just trying to do my best to help us break out.”

In multiple sequences, Woll looked hesitant handling the puck, including one play in the opening 30 seconds of the third period. A dump-in took an odd bounce off his stick behind the net and popped out into the slot. Anton Lundell nearly capitalized before Woll made a diving play to recover.

It wasn’t the only shaky moment. At times, he looked indecisive with rimmed pucks, awkward on playing it, and late to move it effectively to his defensemen. When asked what the key is in those pressure situations, Woll was straightforward: “Getting it to our defenseman or our players.”

Pressed further on whether speed, quick decisions, or early scanning played a role in making good decisions with the puck, he replied, “Yeah, all those.”

It wasn’t the most glamorous effort on his part, but it wasn’t all his fault.

Two Florida goals, one in regulation and the overtime winner, came off Leafs defenseman Morgan Rielly. On the game-winner, Brad Marchand’s shot redirected off Rielly in the slot and past Woll, who had no chance. In the first, another puck bounced off Rielly’s stick and into the net, kicking off the Leafs’ streak of unlucky deflections.

Even the Panthers’ controversial second goal in the middle frame was a result of bizarre circumstances, including a broken Brandon Carlo stick in the crease. The play was initially blown dead but later overturned after review. Carlo attempted to play the puck in the crease, and Sam Reinhart eventually jammed it past Woll.

His teammates and head coach were quick to back him following the loss.

“Joe was outstanding tonight, and I thought he did a good job playing the puck,” said Rielly.

“I thought he was really good. I mean, I don’t love the fourth goal, but other than that, I thought he was solid,” added Berube.

As mentioned by the bench boss, the fourth goal, a shot from Tomas Nosek that clipped off Jonah Gadjovich, beat Woll clean and gave Florida a 4-3 lead late in the second period as part of a three-goal middle frame. It was the one he'd probably want back and a save he needed to make in that moment.

“You just shake it off,” Woll said of the tough bounces. “Like you said, bounces go both ways, and that’s hockey. So, just reset, focus on the next one.”

“I did the same thing (tonight) as I always do. Just came out on the wrong side,” he added.

As the series shifts to Game 4 on Sunday, the Leafs will need Woll to be sharper, not just on the initial shot, but in his decisions and confidence handling the puck as they look to earn a split on the road.

Stay updated with the most interesting Maple Leafs stories, analysis, breaking news and more! Tap the star to add us to your favorites on Google News to never miss a story.