Stolarz made 31 saves and posted an impressive .969 save percentage against the Wild.
The Toronto Maple Leafs fell 2-1 in overtime to the Minnesota Wild on Sunday, but it was a standout performance by goaltender Anthony Stolarz that helped the club secure a valuable point. Stolarz, who posted a stellar .969 save percentage, made 31 saves and kept Toronto in the game, especially during pressing stretches from the Wild.
Through eight games this season, Stolarz has accumulated a 4-2-2 record, a 2.38 goals-against average, and a .919 save percentage. Returning to the net after a two-game break, he faced a challenging Minnesota team with a strong 7-1-2 record coming into the matchup.
One of Stolarz's most critical contributions came on the penalty kill, where he anchored a successful unit that held the Wild scoreless on three power plays, including a crucial four-minute man advantage in the second period. His resilience, particularly in the third period when the Leafs were fatigued playing in the second half of a back-to-back, earned him praise from his coach and teammates.
Head coach Craig Berube commented on Stolarz standing tall for a full 60 minutes, but notably in the final frame. “Yeah, we were a little gassed in the third,” Berube said. “Killed a lot of penalties. And we were gassed, but he stood tall for us.”
Stolarz’s athleticism was on full display, especially during a remarkable glove save made without his stick. Reflecting on the play, he noted, “I mean, I dropped that (stick) probably two or three times tonight, so that's on me. But I just kind of used my athleticism there to kind of battle around the screen. I mean, Hartman, he's a pretty big guy, so I kind of just read it well and just did a split and landed up in my glove.”
The 30-year-old also earned praise from Auston Matthews who emphasized his consistency and the team's level of belief when he's in the crease.
“Yeah, I mean, he's been solid for us all year. So, I mean, he's got the confidence,” Matthews explained. “We've got the confidence in him that we want to make it as easy as possible for him. But when he's got to step up and make a save, he's been doing that for us all year. So it's been great to see. He's been playing great hockey for us.”
Defenseman Morgan Rielly added to Matthews’ sentiment, mentioning that Stolarz was the key to earning a point on Sunday with a handful of exceptional saves.
“Outstanding. He's been great all year. Tonight was no different. You could argue that he kept us in it for periods of time,” Rielly emphasized. “A couple outstanding saves. So you want to win those ones for your goalie. Obviously that's not the case tonight, but I thought he was great.”
Though the Leafs did not earn full points in the loss, Stolarz’s performance was pivotal in securing at least a point. He continued to display his value to Toronto in a tightly contested matchup against one of the league’s top teams through the opening month of the season.
Next on the calendar, Toronto hosts Boston on Tuesday at Scotiabank Arena, where the Leafs will seek redemption from their 4-3 overtime loss on October 26 at TD Garden against the Bruins.