Signing Stolarz was a big save for the Maple Leafs

TORONTO – Anthony Stolarz was clearly uncomfortable.

The veteran goalie lay hunched over in the Toronto Maple Leafs' goal crease, feeling the searing pain of a shot from Boston Bruins sharpshooter David Pastrnak that drilled into his neck in the first period at Scotiabank Arena on Tuesday.

After taking more than a minute to shake off the effects of the explosion, Stolarz managed to compose himself and agreed to continue.

Was he ever?

For the rest of the evening, it was the 30-year-old Maple Leafs goaltender who was Boston's sore spot en route to his first shutout with Toronto and the ninth of his NHL career in a 4-0 win over the rival Bruins.

“It’s good,” said Stolarz. “I mean, the most important thing is that we got two points and beat a big division team. So, you know, I thought it was probably one of our better 60 Minutes performances of the year, and hopefully we can keep it going.”

Stolarz has done just that since signing a two-year, $5 million contract (average annual value of $2.5 million) with the Maple Leafs on July 2. When he stepped onto the ice, he felt comfortable and in control from the start -go, a run that has placed him ahead of the oft-injured Joseph Woll in the battle for the starting spot in Toronto.

In nine games against Toronto, the Edison, New Jersey, native went 5-2-2 with a 2.12 goals-against average and .928 save percentage. His penchant for going from post to post to make big stops had the sellout crowd in Toronto chanting his name, something that wasn't lost on him or his teammates.

“You know, it’s always going to kind of get you going,” he said of the fans’ support. “They value sport and are the ones who push us and give us energy. So if they can get loud and make some noise for us, we really appreciate it.”

Just as his colleagues on the Maple Leafs appreciate his efforts.

“Massive parades. “A couple of great saves across the goal crease,” Toronto forward Mitch Marner said. “'Stolly' has done that for us on the net all year. Big praise to him. Without him there could have been a different game or a different result. Solid.

“It’s great to see the fans giving him the love he deserves.”

Stolarz recorded career highs for starts (24), wins (16) and GAA (2.03) during the 2023-24 season as Sergei Bobrovsky's replacement to help the Florida Panthers win the Stanley Cup. Now he's trying to do the same in Toronto, albeit in a potentially much larger role with the Maple Leafs.

Even though he could exceed the expectations of many Toronto fans before the season, coach Craig Berube doesn't see it that way.

“I don’t think so,” Berube said. “Last year, if you look at the numbers, I think he played extremely well in his season.

“He’s been around for a while and has really learned how to do the work and understands what he needs to do to be successful. He showed that last year too.”

Now he's doing it again, perhaps at a higher level than ever before. And if he can keep it up, he could be one of the better players in the league, if not one of the most influential difference-makers.