'Brain Turned Off For A Second': Maple Leafs Goalie Joseph Woll Explains Bizarre Goal In Maple Leafs Loss To Sharks
Mar 27, 2025; San Jose, California, USA; San Jose Sharks players celebrate a goal against Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Joseph Woll (60) during the second period at SAP Center at San Jose. Mandatory Credit: D. Ross Cameron-Imagn ImagesLOS ANGELES — It's one of those moments that can happen to any goaltender. This time, Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Joseph Woll made a mistake.
The Maple Leafs were trailing the San Jose Sharks 3-2 on Thursday in the second period when Woll had the puck. In an attempt to clear or pass the puck, the goaltender instead bounced it off of Sharks forward William Eklund and into the back of the Toronto net.
Woll explained the incident from his point of view following Toronto's practice on Friday at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.
"I'm not too sure. Just a bad play. Sometimes you make bad plays," Woll said. "I think I was thinking looking up ice and brain turned off for a second. It's unfortunate."
Woll is not the first NHL goaltender to have a blunder like that and certainly won't be the last.
Perhaps one of the biggest goalie mistakes in Leafs history came against the Islanders when Rob Davison sent a bouncing puck toward goaltender Vesa Toskala, who had difficulty following the bounces.
Fortunately for Woll, the Leafs erased a two-goal deficit in the third period and salvaged a crucial point in the standings before falling 6-5 in a shootout.
Woll is expected to get one of the next two starts in goal as the Maple Leafs finish out their three-game road swing through California with a pair of games against the Los Angeles Kings, following up a game on Sunday against the Anaheim Ducks at Honda Center.
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.