Anthony Stolarz was smiling and within the constructing.
The Maple Leafs goaltender had taken a blow to the top, vomited on the bench and left Scotiabank Enviornment on a stretcher to be evaluated in hospital the earlier night time.
His presence at Toronto’s apply facility within the metropolis’s west finish Tuesday morning was a welcome signal. Whether or not or not Stolarz will see motion when workforce’s best-of-seven second-playoff collection resumes Wednesday at 7 p.m. ET is up within the air.
Head coach Craig Berube did not rule out his beginning netminder for Sport 2 towards the visiting Florida Panthers after Stolarz was on the receiving finish of an elbow from Sam Bennett within the opener.
“He is doing properly,” stated Berube, whose group picked up a 5-4 victory Monday to take a 1-0 lead in a showdown of Atlantic Division heavyweights.
“He is right here, doing good.”
That is about all the knowledge the veteran bench boss was prepared to share.
Is the 31-year-old obtainable to play Wednesday? Berube: “We’ll see. Do not know that but.”
And did he endure a concussion? Berube: “Do not know that both.”
Bennett avoids self-discipline by NHL
What the Leafs do know is Bennett, a Stanley Cup champion alongside Stolarz with the Panthers final season earlier than the latter signed in Toronto, will not face any supplemental self-discipline from the NHL.
“I do not need to speak about it,” Berube stated. “It is over.”
Stolarz, who additionally took a shot off the masks early in Sport 1, was knocked to the ice within the second interval by Bennett, however stayed within the motion for a couple of minutes. He finally departed after being sick throughout a TV timeout.
“Powerful seeing your beginning goaltender go down,” stated Leafs defenceman Jake McCabe.
No stranger to being parachuted right into a playoff collection, backup Joseph Woll stopped 17 of 20 pictures in aid as Toronto held on after constructing a 4-1 lead.
The 26-year-old gained Video games 5 and 6 of final spring’s first-round loss to the Boston Bruins, however was unable to go within the finale due to a again harm.
Woll, who performed lengthy stretches this season, together with when Stolarz was out long-term with a knee concern, additionally entered Toronto’s second-round defeat to Florida in 2023, successful Sport 4 to stave off elimination earlier than a 40-save efficiency in a 3-2 time beyond regulation loss that despatched the Panthers to the Japanese Convention ultimate.
“We have all the arrogance in him,” McCabe stated. “Powerful spot, however he did an superior job.”
‘There isn’t any intent’
Bennett, in the meantime, spoke to reporters at Florida’s downtown lodge after not being made obtainable to the media following Sport 1. The 28-year-old stated he had exchanged textual content messages with Stolarz.
“There isn’t any intent,” stated Bennett, who added he did not notice the 2 made contact within the second. “Stolie’s an incredible good friend of mine. Once I hear he went to the hospital, in fact, I really feel unhealthy. That is why I reached out.”
The bruising six-foot-one, 191-pound centre, nevertheless, has a checkered previous went it involves enjoying close to, on or over the road.
That lengthy record of questionable performs consists of him slamming Matthew Knies to the ice on a sequence that resulted within the Toronto winger getting a concussion within the 2023 collection. He additionally appeared to sucker-punch Brad Marchand, now his Florida teammate, in final spring’s second spherical to sideline Boston’s captain.
“I play a tough fashion,” Bennett stated. “I am simply attempting to play my recreation, I am simply attempting to assist our workforce win.”
He additionally understands the anger following the Stolarz harm, however stated the actual fact the Panthers had been on the ability play means he was targeted on just one factor.
“I am attempting to attain,” Bennett stated. “The very last thing in my thoughts is elbowing him within the head. There wasn’t a ton of drive in it.”
Leafs winger Max Pacioretty has been within the league since earlier than Bennett was drafted fourth general by the Calgary Flames in 2014.
Coach Maurice downplays incident
“Emotional participant that performs arduous,” stated the 36-year-old. “Gamers like that, they usually flirt with a line by way of crossing it or enjoying proper on that line on a regular basis. That is what makes gamers like that good at their job.”
Panthers head coach Paul Maurice tried to pour chilly water on the scenario Monday night time and once more Tuesday morning.
“Most of this, for me, is tempered by the truth that Stolie is certainly one of our guys,” he stated. “We love that man. If I had thought that Sam had crossed the road, I would in all probability be extra cautious with my phrases.
“I simply did not assume it occurred.”
Berube stated his workforce must keep disciplined and never search retribution or frontier justice on Bennett that might end in energy performs for the opposite facet.
Seventh on the NHL’s penalty minutes record, nevertheless, Berube stated the scenario would have been dealt with in another way throughout his enjoying days.
“Any individual would have finished one thing straight away,” he stated with a smile. “Most likely me, if I used to be on the market.”
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