Media needs to give Stolarz a break

[BlueForever75]

Which goal exactly was Stolarz fault in game 5? The one where Matthews lost the draw and didnt cover the point and dmen didnt clear the front of the net where he was screened? Or the goal where Matthews threw the puck blindly leaving Marner to defend a 2 on 1 for a short handed goal that Stolarz had no chance at with a perfect play by the Ottawa forwards?

Ultimately a change in goal may be made to shake it up and send a message, but by no stretch is it because of Stolarz play. And Woll would have had no chance yesterday on those goals, the score still would have been the same. The team let down everyone including Stolarz not Stolarz himself.

 

[Ports]

Unfortunately the Leafs have relied on their goaltending to steal a lot of games for this season. But their issue in the playoffs is that they can’t score in close out games so they need their goalies to pitch a shutout to win therefore any goal the goalie lets in is magnified. It is interesting though that their record is a lot better when they get out shot than otherwise. Goalies getting more shots tend to find their rhythm and stay in the game.

 

[BlueForever75]

Issue has not been goaltending. This is where fans and media alike are misinformed or do not know the game. Our team in front of our goaltending has not stepped up. If they want to send a message, send it. Swap out Patches again bring in Robertson, swap out Jarnkrok for Kampf. Bring in players that are going to want to prove their worth that will kick start the stars hopefully. The goaltending is the wrong way to go. Stolarz got us the 3 game lead the team in front of him is slowly milking it away.

 

[stickty111]

He's been fine but below .900 is not going to get it done.

 

[Buds17]

A goalie can only stop pucks from entering the net at his end of the rink (barring those extremely rare exceptions of scoring a goal for his own team). Games 4 and 5 weren't exactly squandered for the same reasons.

 

[HockeyVirus]

He's been fine but below .900 is not going to get it done.

Crazy what small samples sizes do. 4 days ago he had a .960sv%.

I am betting he ends up in the middle of that. Leafs likely come out hot take an early lead game 6 and get shelled all game and hang on for a win is my guess.

 

[colchar]

Colchar having a mental breakdown - you okay buddy?

I'm great, thanks. On holiday in England so doing fine, just getting some stuff off my chest.

 

[1specter]

Crazy what small samples sizes do. 4 days ago he had a .960sv%.

I am betting he ends up in the middle of that. Leafs likely come out hot take an early lead game 6 and get shelled all game and hang on for a win is my guess.

Not sure where you are getting your numbers from, but he never had a .960 sv%. or anything close to that. His best game was game 1, where he put up .939, then .929 in game 2. His sv% going into game 3 was .934, and has progressively dropped every game as he posted a .900 in game 3, .810 in game 4 and .882 in game 5. He has also faced less shots each game, going from 33->28->20->21->17. Worrying trend. His one saving grace is that he's only allowed more than 2 goals once, which was in game 4. The Leafs should be able to score at least 3 and if they can't they don't deserve to win.

Anthony Stolarz 2024-25 Stats per Game - NHL - ESPN

The 2024-25 NHL season stats per game for Anthony Stolarz of the Toronto Maple Leafs on ESPN. Includes full stats, per opponent, for regular and postseason.

www.espn.com

 

[Ianturnedbull]

I have no control as to who starts which game. That's up to Berube.

However, I want many of you to understand that there was another TOR goalie that helped this team have success in the regular season:

W O L L

 

[keonsbitterness]

I think it's too late. I can see a lot of empty seats next year.

Yeah, it'll be 99.7% renewal rate instead of 99.8%.

 

[Evilhomer]

I think this thread can be shut down.

 

[BlueForever75]

I think this thread can be shut down.

You really thinks so. Lets see how it ages. As some still believe Woll should be the starter. Even after the series win against Ottawa.

 

[WilliamInLondon]

You really thinks so. Lets see how it ages. As some still believe Woll should be the starter. Even after the series win against Ottawa.

I don't agree with Kypreos' reasoning that you put in Woll in Game 1. That would just be a mindf*** for both goalies, especially after you stuck with the same goalie in Round 1 and got through.

I understand the reasoning though in terms of giving Stolarz a physical and mental break since he has never managed such a high workrate before. But doing this now would be really disuptive and counterproductive since it goes again what is basically working, albeit imperfectly. I would only put Woll in if the Leafs are down 2-0 and need to go for broke. Otherwise, Stolarz is the safest status quo move.

 

[Evilhomer]

I don't agree with Kypreos' reasoning that you put in Woll in Game 1. That would just be a mindf*** for both goalies, especially after you stuck with the same goalie in Round 1 and got through.

I understand the reasoning though in terms of giving Stolarz a physical and mental break since he has never managed such a high workrate before. But doing this now would be really disuptive and counterproductive since it goes again what is basically working, albeit imperfectly. I would only put Woll in if the Leafs are down 2-0 and need to go for broke. Otherwise, Stolarz is the safest status quo move.

Stolarz will have played 6 games in 14 days by the time the second round starts. The guy is hardly going to be beaten down physically.

 

[WilliamInLondon]

Stolarz will have played 6 games in 14 days by the time the second round starts. The guy is hardly going to be beaten down physically.

I didn't interpret Kypreos' rationale as alleviating how Stolarz is feeling in Game 1, but rather how fresh he'll be going into Game 4, 5, or 7 (or even beyond). Again, I don't agree with the thinking, but I understand it if you're trying to pace your first-time #1 playoff goalie for a long campaign.

The dilemma is that if your team is firing on all cylinders in game #15, but your #1 breaks down physically and mentally, and your backup didn't get a single game, you're running a risk putting in a cold Woll into the net. Better to give Woll a rep or two for both goalies' sake. That's Kypreos' logic.

(My POV as I'm alluding to above is Game #15 is a luxury and possibly pipedream for this team. I'm eating the marshmellow and maximising for immediate short-term success, which is why I'm Stolarz or bust).