Anthony Stolarz update: Maple Leafs HC Craig Berube confirms 'Worse' than expected injury for star goalie

Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube did not deliver the news fans wanted to hear regarding starting netminder Anthony Stolarz.

Berube on Thursday confirmed that Stolarz is not ready to rejoin the team as originally anticipated. The 31-year-old last played on November 11 against the Boston Bruins. He surrendered three goals on 11 shots and did not return after the first 20 minutes.

While it was initially thought that Anthony Stolarz was day-to-day, the Maple Leafs coach confirmed things are going as expected.

Berube stated:

“Worse than we thought. He’s not ready to get on the ice yet… hopefully it’s soon, I really don’t have a timetable for him.”

Anna Dua

@AnnaNoelleDua

Anthony Stolarz update: Maple Leafs HC Craig Berube confirms 'Worse' than expected injury for star goalie

The comments, as initially reported by Sportsnet’s Annua Dua, highlight how Stolarz’s injury situation has decimated the team’s plans for their starting goalie. While the club has gotten Joseph Woll back into the mix, the loss of Stolarz will be a major blow to the Maple Leafs’ hopes to make the playoffs this season.

Anthony Stolarz remains listed as day-to-day despite the lack of clarity on his potential return.

Woll’s return helps offset Maple Leafs' loss of Anthony Stolarz

The Maple Leafs hoped to enter the season with the same tandem they had last season. Joseph Woll and Anthony Stolarz combined to be among the best goalie duos in the NHL. However, Woll left the team on a personal matter and was away for roughly the first month of the season.

That situation forced Stolarz to start a much higher number of games than anticipated. Before going down with an upper-body injury, Stolarz had started 13 of the first 17 games. That situation left the club with waiver claim Cayden Primeau to pick up the slack.

Primeau was awful and left the team after being reclaimed by the Carolina Hurricanes. Fortunately, Woll returned at the right time. As Terry Koshan of the Toronto Sunday noted on November 20, Woll has been a “saving grace.”

Woll has been solid in his first two starts since returning, he’s sporting a .934 SV% in two decent outings. He’ll be back in the crease against on Thursday as the Leafs take on the Columbus Blue Jackets at Scotiabank Arena.

Toronto will be rolling with Woll and Dennis Hildeby while Stolarz returns to action. The Maple Leafs hope that their duo will be ready for action sooner rather than later. The team is on the outside of the Eastern Conference playoff picture and will be looking to get back into the race.