Maple Leafs Making No Promises to Rookie Goaltender Dennis Hildeby
The Maple Leafs have a back-to-back situation this weekend and without Anthony Stolarz, head coach Craig Berube was non-committal to their plans for Dennis Hildeby.
Thursday saw Anthony Stolarz leave the game during the Leafs' victory over the Anaheim Ducks after the first period, creating some panic in Leafs Nation.
At practice on Friday, Berube revealed the team received good news on the Stolarz injury front, and was hopeful the Stanley Cup Champion would be back sometime next week.
Unfortunately, the injury to Stolarz could not have come at a worse time as the Leafs enter a stretch of 5 games in 8 days, including two sets of back-to-backs.
On Friday, the Leafs recalled goaltender Dennis Hildeby from the Toronto Marlies. In six games since being sent down earlier in the season, Hildeby has just a .897 save percentage, compared to Artur Akhtyamov's .923 save percentage in 9 games, leading some to suggest that Akhtyamov, not Hildeby, deserved the recall.
Hildeby played in two games earlier this season for the Leafs against the New Jersey Devils and Columbus Blue Jackets. Following practice on Friday, Berube was asked about Hildeby and the potential of starting him in one game over the weekend.
While Berube was complementary of Hildeby in his remarks, if you go back and read through the quote again, he made no promises to the rookie goalie about seeing any game action during his call-up.
It would be more of a shock if Hildeby didn't get the nod on Sunday, as the Leafs will likely try to avoid overplaying Woll and risking an injury with Stolarz already sidelined with a lower-body ailment.
While Berube made no promises, we will more than likely see Hildeby man the crease against Buffalo on Sunday.
| POLL | ||
DECEMBRE 14 | 1162 ANSWERS Maple Leafs Making No Promises to Rookie Goaltender Dennis Hildeby Should the Leafs start Hildeby for either game this weekend? | ||
| Absolutely. Why risk injury? | 880 | 75.7 % |
| Not if Woll has a light game on Saturday | 161 | 13.9 % |
| Give Woll both starts regardless | 121 | 10.4 % |
| List of polls | ||
