Leafs’ Anthony Stolarz to make first start in over two months
The Toronto Maple Leafs will see a familiar face in net Friday night against the Vegas Golden Knights, as goaltender Anthony Stolarz will make his first start since mid-November.
🥅: Anthony Stolarz (TOR) ✅ will start Friday vs. VGK. His first start since Nov. 11. He was 6-5-1 with a 3.51 GAA and .884 SV% before getting hurt. dailyfaceoff.com/players/news/a…
Speculation over whether Stolarz would play started Friday when he was in the starter’s crease during the team’s morning skate.
Interesting morning skate for the #LeafsForever -- Anthony Stolarz is in the starter's crease, suggesting he's going to be making his first start since mid-November. And it looks like Oliver Ekman-Larsson and Brandon Carlo are good-to-go vs. VGK. Projected Lineup 👇
The 32-year-old netminder hasn’t played since Nov. 11 against the Boston Bruins when he gave up three goals on 11 shots. He left the game after the first period and did not return.
During a media availability in Las Vegas last week, Stolarz said a nerve issue is what has kept him out of the lineup.
In 13 games this season, the Edison, N.J., native has a 6-5-1 record with an .884 save percentage (SV%) and an even-strength goals saved above expected (5v5 GSAx) of -5.2. Last September, Stolarz signed a four-year, $15-million contract extension with Toronto, which will pay him $3.75 million per year through the 2029-30 season.
The Leafs signed Stolarz to a two-year, $5-million deal in July 2024. In his first season with Toronto, the 6-foot-6 netminder posted a 21-8-3 record with a league-leading .926 SV% and 24.2 5v5 GSAx in 34 appearances.
Now entering his ninth NHL season, Stolarz has appeared in 155 regular-season games, posting a 70-44-13 record with a .915 SV% and 2.62 GAA with the Maple Leafs, Florida Panthers, Anaheim Ducks, Edmonton Oilers and Philadelphia Flyers.
He also appeared in seven Stanley Cup Playoff games last spring, going 4-2 with a .901 SV% and 2.19 GAA. He won a Stanley Cup championship with the Panthers in 2023.
Stolarz was taken in the second round by the Flyers in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft. Before turning professional, he spent two seasons with the Ontario Hockey League’s London Knights, helping the team win an OHL Championship in 2013.
The Leafs go into Friday night with a 24-17-9 record and 57 points, sixth in the Atlantic Division and three points back of a Wildcard spot in the Eastern Conference.