Rookie goaltender Joseph Woll sets Maple Leafs franchise record in Game 4 win
With Ilya Samsonov hurt and Matt Murray having not played in more than a month, Sheldon Keefe and the Leafs put their season in the hands of rookie Joseph Woll Wednesday night. Woll was spectacular in his first playoff start stopping 24 of 25 shots for a .960 save percentage and a 1.00 GAA, picking up his first career playoff win.
In the process of keeping the Leafs' season alive, Woll also became the first goalie in Maple Leafs franchise history with 10 wins in his first 12 starts in the regular season and playoffs. Former NHL goalie and Daily FaceOff reporter Mike McKenna called Woll the Leafs' best goalie this season and with his 6-1 record in the regular season, Woll has surely earned at least the backup spot for next season.
Signed for another 2 years at just over $766K per season, utilizing Woll in next year's tandem would save the Leafs a ton of cap room and given that he is no longer waiver exempt beginning next season, the Leafs will not take a chance in losing him on waivers like they have with other goalies in the past.
Woll has now allowed just 5 total goals in 3 appearances for the Leafs in this postseason. The net very likely belongs to him now and it will be up to him to make the most of it if the Leafs want to have any hope of stringing together 3 more wins to down the Panthers in 7.
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