Anthony Stolarz’s goal-line save highlights ‘superb’ begin with Maple Leafs

TORONTO — 5 begins into Anthony Stolarz‘s tenure as a Toronto Maple Leaf, we’re undecided which can be harder: Taking his web or discovering the again of it.

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Simply ask 40-goal man Jake Guentzel how dialled within the goaltender is to start the season, Stolarz’s first true shot at enjoying extra video games than his tandem mate.

With the Tampa Bay Lightning zipping the puck round on a full two-minute, two-man benefit — a golden alternative to claw again into Monday’s divisional tilt — Guentzel had a net-front tap-in wiped away when Stolarz engaged “desperation mode” (his phrase) and sprawled his glove backward to swipe a certain factor off the objective line.

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The usually subdued Scotiabank Enviornment throng erupted on the save, then ejected out of its seats as soon as once more in appreciation of their finest penalty-killer as soon as the 2 minutes handed with out an enemy strike.

“It’s thrilling. Kinda swings momentum our means. They’ve a 5-on-3, a chance to swing and kinda change issues,” Stolarz smiled, after securing a 5-2 dwelling win.

“By the group entering into it, I feel it shattered them a bit bit and simply allowed us to kill it off.”

The early Stolarz expertise — 1.83 objectives towards, .938 save share — has been as constant as it’s contagious, and the 30-year-old profession backup is quickly however calmly incomes the belief of his coach, his teammates, and the fan base.

“You noticed it within the crowd. Everybody’s up for it, our entire bench. You understand, that’s a reasonably unimaginable save. He saved us within the recreation the entire night time,” stated Matthew Knies, who sniped a five-hole insurance coverage objective shortly after the essential kill.

“We didn’t do too nicely staying out of the field and gave them a 5-on-3, they usually bought quite a lot of possibilities, however he stood his floor and performed nicely.”

Little question, Stolarz’s 32-save star flip bottled up the Lightning.

However have the Maple Leafs caught lightning in a bottle?

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When GM Brad Treliving misplaced out (to New Jersey) on the Jacob Markstrom commerce and went attempting to find a goaltender on this previous summer time’s skinny UFA market, he sought out a confirmed however reasonably priced 1B. An skilled goalie with respectable numbers however one who wouldn’t stress his tight funds.

Contemporary off a Stanley Cup championship backing up workhorse Sergei Bobrovsky, Stolarz got here in at a $2.5-million AAV, which might slide properly below the forthcoming elevate for Joseph Woll ($3.67 million).

Certain, it was the drafted-and-developed Woll who was circled as Toronto’s opening-night starter and No. 1 frontrunner.

However Stolarz took Treliving’s supply largely as a result of he noticed a chance to seem in additional NHL video games than ever (earlier excessive: 28).

“It was in all probability the No. 1 factor for me,” Stolarz says. “You clearly play this recreation to play video games and get on the market. And with this staff, the expertise clearly speaks for itself. So, for me, it was a reasonably simple resolution.”

The second Woll pulled up with an injured groin in pre-season and Stolarz subbed in, permitting only one objective on his first-ever season-opener, that call has regarded like a wise one — for the happy GM and the goalie with a masks as glimmering as his superior stats.

Whereas it might be tempting to look at Stolarz’s objectives saved above anticipated (4.4 and climbing), his confidence enjoying the puck (his sensible power-play stretch cross helped create an Auston Matthews objective Monday) or his positionally sound six-foot-six presence and surprise if he can begin 50, nobody on the Leafs desires to get carried away over two weeks’ work.

Irrespective of how nicely they’ve gone for the Edison, N.J., native.

“I stated in the beginning of the yr: Each goalies are going to see extra web than they’ve prior to now. I’ll simply go away it at that,” coach Craig Berube stated, pumping the brakes on Stolarz Mania.

In Anaheim (John Gibson) and Florida (Bobrovsky), Stolarz’s ambition was blocked by a workhorse with pedigree. That’s not the case right now.

Another excuse for skepticism over the signing could be that, in Florida, Stolarz benefitted by enjoying behind one of many stingiest groups in hockey.

Properly, due to Berube’s construction and the blueline additions of Chris Tanev and Oliver Ekman-Larsson, the Leafs are shaping right into a top-five defensive outfit themselves.

After all, Stolarz himself has had a hand in that.

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“I simply attempt to dwell within the second and simply attempt to get pleasure from every day. It’s a privilege to play on this league, and we’ve such a superb group right here that it makes it quite a lot of enjoyable to come back to the rink on daily basis. You may clearly see the ability, the expertise right here, and our mission is to do quite a lot of massive issues this yr. I feel video games like tonight are good stepping stone in the precise route,” Stolarz stated.

“It’s been quite a lot of enjoyable. I’m having fun with myself thus far. It’s been extraordinarily welcoming — the fellows, the town, the group. So, I’m wanting ahead to much more going ahead.”

Extra begins, extra jaw-dropping saves, and most significantly, extra wins.

Fox’s Quick 5

• Suppose Toronto’s star-studded power-play has been gradual to rev?

Contemplate the Lightning PP going 1-for-16 in its previous 4 video games, dropping its general success fee to 13.6 per cent (twenty seventh within the league).

We’re speaking a few franchise that has been working the NHL’s second-best power-play since 2001-02.

“Everybody is aware of who we misplaced final yr,” Brandon Hagel advised a staff reporter. “So, that is what’s going to occur all year long.”

•When was the final time the Maple Leafs’ fourth line (a) had this a lot belief and (b) deserved this a lot belief?

Steven Lorentz and David Kämpf are staples. Nevertheless it doesn’t matter if the opposite winger is Ryan Reaves, Bobby McMann or Pontus Holmberg. Everybody is aware of the task.

“I don’t have an issue placing them out towards anyone,” Berube says. “They’re a hounding line.”

• Maybe it’s merely a perform of being the one recreation on the schedule, however Scotiabank Enviornment’s press field was crowded with 23 groups bringing scouts for this one. The Dallas Stars, Winnipeg Jets and Vegas Golden Knights all reserved a number of seats.

Stars GM Jim Nill has taken in a pair Leafs video games in-person throughout this homestand, and we all know a Toronto cap crunch lies across the nook with Jani Hakanpää, Connor Dewar, and Calle Järnkrok eligible to come back off LTIR subsequent month.

(Or possibly Nill, whose staff is in Buffalo Tuesday, merely enjoys watching hockey.)

• In the meantime on the farm… the Toronto Marlies have leapt to a torrid 5-0 begin.

William’s youthful brother, Alex Nylander, is averaging a objective per recreation (5-1–6) and has already ripped a team-high 22 pictures on web. He’s at the moment on an AHL-only contract however signed that with hopes of incomes an NHL deal and skating together with his brother.

• A clairvoyant John Tavares — hours earlier than he arrange the objective that chased the all-world Andrei Vasilevskiy out of Toronto — was amped for the problem.

“For us, you gotta get pleasure from that. You gotta relish that,” Tavares stated. “You’re speaking about essentially the most confirmed goalie within the league, in all probability.”