Top Tier NHL Goaltender Gives Leafs Goalie Joseph Woll a Huge Vote of Confidence
Dallas Stars superstar goalie Jake Oettinger, speaks extremely highly of Maple Leafs netminder Joseph Woll ahead of matchup in Dallas.
As the 19-10-2 Toronto Maple Leafs prepare to face the 19-11-0 Dallas Stars in a showdown between two of the NHL's top teams, the goaltending battle will be pivotal. Both teams feature highly skilled goalies who are also close friends off the ice.
As per David Alter on X, Woll is the Leafs' start for tonight's matchup:
Woll projects to start against former US National team teammate Jake Oettinger for the first time.''
American-born goalies Joseph Woll and Jake Oettinger have been teammates on the U.S. National Team for years, and have been supporting each other throughout their careers.
As per Leafslatest on X Oettinger was very complementary of Woll ahead of tonight's matchup against the Leafs:
Oettinger's praise for Woll is notable, especially given that the Stars' goalie has been among the best in the league since entering the NHL in the 2020-21 season. After Woll's strong playoff performance last season, it was clear that his future with the Maple Leafs was bright.
With Anthony Stolarz sidelined for 4-6 weeks, Woll will need to elevate his game even further, as Stolarz had been one of the league's top goaltenders this season and appeared to be on the cusp of taking over the net as the clear-cut #1 goalie in Toronto.
Unfortunately, with Stolarz on the sidelines, the Leafs have a clear need for someone to step up in a supporting role for Woll, and that could be veteran goalie Matt Murray, who has recently recovered from injury. His experience could provide valuable support to Woll in the coming games without Stolarz.
Tonight's matchup between the Maple Leafs and the Stars promises to be a thrilling goaltending duel. While Oettinger and Woll share a strong friendship, their competitive spirit will be on full display as they face off on the ice tonight doe the first time.
