Maple Leafs Confirm Starting Goalie For Tonight's Matchup with the Kraken
The Maple Leafs have been riding the hot hand with Anthony Stolarz lately, but on Thursday, he'll take a seat against the Kraken in favour of Joseph Woll.
Ten games into the 2024-25 National Hockey League season, it is likely that Craig Berube would have liked to have an idea as to whom his number one goalie would be. For the most part, it appears as though Anthony Stolarz is the early number one, but nothing is fully established quite yet.
On Thursday, it will be Joseph Woll, who had been nursing an injury, who will man the crease for the Leafs against Seattle. However, after sitting for some time, Woll will need to have a very strong performance in order to try to sway the momentum back into his favour.
Woll, injured before the puck dropped on the regular season, has appeared in one game this season, a loss in which he made twenty-two saves. The 26-year-old goes into Thursday night's matchup with an inflated 4.08 GAA and a less than desirable .846 SV%.
Craig Berube knows he can't have Anthony Stolarz carry the entire load, so by having Woll play against the Kraken, who are arguably better this season to this point than they were last, it could give him a barometer as to what's to come the rest of the way.
In an ideal world, having Woll and Stolarz become a legitimate 1A/1B tandem with an equal number or starts would be then play. Especially if both netminders were performing up to expectations. However, we don't live in an ideal world, and sometimes coaches like to ride the hot hand -- and rightfully so.
With Stolarz having ended the Winnipeg Jets' 8-game undefeated streak to start the season, he very much appears to be the frontrunner for the lion's share of the starts. A stellar showing for Woll tonight, though, might help balance the scales a little bit more.
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7 HOURS AGO | 357 ANSWERS Maple Leafs Confirm Starting Goalie For Tonight's Matchup with the Kraken If Joseph Woll puts up a brilliant performance against Seattle tonight, who should the Leafs start on Saturday? | ||
