While Joseph Woll weathered a 78-shot-attempt storm from the Hurricanes, head coach Craig Berube made it clear that "pretty solid" isn't enough when the Maple Leafs need a game-breaking save. But is he right?
The Toronto Maple Leafs fell to the Carolina Hurricanes 4-3 in overtime on Friday. The result was flattering, considering the Hurricanes fired 78 shot attempts at Toronto’s net compared to just 43 from Toronto, requiring Joseph Woll to make 32 saves.
But that didn’t stop Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube from giving a rather poignant assessment of his goaltender’s play. "He's played well, but tonight in the end, I don't think—I know—we need a save, whether it's the OT or it's one of the breakaways. We need a big save there".
Berube was referring to three of the Hurricanes’ four goals. In the second period, Eric Robinson beat Woll on a penalty shot to give Carolina a 3-1 lead. K’Andre Miller restored a one-goal lead later in the frame when he stripped Maple Leafs defenseman Morgan Rielly of the puck and beat Woll for a shorthanded breakaway goal.
It’s tough to put a lot of blame on Woll, considering the goaltender has inexplicably started in five of the club’s last six games while Anthony Stolarz remained fully healthy and available. Since March 8, Woll has faced 175 shots, more than any other goaltender in the NHL. Could he have made one or two more saves? Sure. But putting the game on Woll hides the bigger picture: the Leafs were simply not good enough to win this game.
"I feel pretty solid, pretty solid in net,” Woll offered regarding his game as of late. Had it not been for William Nylander’s equalizer late in regulation, the Leafs would have ended the night with no points. Given where they are in the standings, not getting that point certainly would have helped their positioning for the NHL Draft.
Stolarz is expected to get the start against the Ottawa Senators on Saturday in a game that has far more meaning for them than the Leafs, who remain seventh-worst in the NHL based on points percentage (.507). To be fair, finishing with no points would have left them in the same position. However, the loss could come back to bite them if they continue to slide.