TORONTO – Joseph Woll has come off the bench for the Maple Leafs the final two playoffs.
The goaltender is making a case to get the opening-night nod this spring.
Woll put in a 3rd straight strong efficiency Wednesday, stopping 38-of-39 pictures in a 2-1 victory over the Colorado Avalanche.
“Doesn’t actually matter what’s happening the sport,” stated Toronto captain Auston Matthews, who scored for the fourth time within the final three contests. “He might be taking part in good, he might be taking part in dangerous … all the time acquired the identical angle, the identical mentality, approaches issues the identical each evening.
“He’s extraordinarily centered.”
Woll was pressed into service with the Leafs down 3-0 within the second spherical of the 2023 playoffs towards the Florida Panthers. He saved his crew alive in Recreation 4 earlier than Toronto was eradicated in extra time in Recreation 5.
The St. Louis native got here on once more in final spring’s opening spherical towards the Boston Bruins — this time with Toronto down 3-1 within the sequence — and picked up consecutive victories earlier than struggling a again damage within the dying seconds of Recreation 6. Ilya Samsonov performed the winner-take-all finale, which the Leafs once more misplaced in OT.
Woll has cut up time with low season acquisition Anthony Stolarz in 2024-25, however is making his case to be within the crease for Recreation 1 subsequent month following a trio of begins that’s seen him block 92 of the final 98 pictures he’s confronted. Stolarz, in the meantime, has allowed three or extra targets in every of his final three appearances.
Associated Movies
“It’s good to play quite a bit,” stated the 26-year-old Woll. “It’s simpler to get in that rhythm and that groove. Once you’re taking part in, you’re not likely pondering. I simply attempt to do my job after I’m referred to as upon.
“I’ll proceed to do this.”
Get each day Nationwide information
Get the day’s high information, political, financial, and present affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox as soon as a day.
Woll, who has had some iffy nights this season, improved to 24-12-0 with a .908 save share and a 2.70 goals-against common with one shutout.
He needed to be particularly sharp late in Wednesday’s second interval when Colorado pumped 9 straight makes an attempt his method, together with Nathan MacKinnon on the doorstep.
And after Steven Lorentz gave the Leafs a 2-1 lead on an odd short-handed purpose early within the third, Woll was once more there to rob Brock Nelson with an enormous glove cease within the slot.
“His resiliency is large,” Lorentz stated. “We broke down a couple of occasions and we had some shifts the place we couldn’t get the puck out of our finish. He was there to again us up.”
The gritty winger added that helps the group breathe in its personal zone.
“Lets you play somewhat bit extra aggressive,” he stated. “That (defensive) aggression, when you channel that the best method, results in offence.”
Toronto (41-24-3) has 13 video games remaining on its schedule — together with Thursday at Madison Sq. Backyard towards the New York Rangers — because the membership continues to jockey with the Panthers and Tampa Bay Lightning for high spot within the Atlantic Division.
Leafs head coach Craig Berube, who will finally should make a name between the post-season pipes, has favored what he’s seen from Woll.
“Performed glorious,” he stated. “The final three video games, he’s been actually good … we’ll determine all that out.”
WACKY BOUNCE
Toronto pushed forward 2-1 at 2:53 of the third on an odd sequence.
An tried clear on the penalty kill by Leafs defenceman Simon Benoit hit referee Kelly Sutherland at centre, which in flip created an unlikely rush that ended with Lorentz ripping a shot previous Colorado goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood.
“Thought I would as properly reroute and attempt to go get a shot,” Lorentz stated. “I used to be lucky sufficient to select a nook and the remaining is historical past.
“It looks as if I’ve had a couple of bounces go the opposite method this 12 months. We’ll take that one.”
SETTLING IN
Charlie Coyle was considered one of Colorado’s key additions forward of the NHL commerce deadline in a take care of the Boston Bruins.
The veteran centre has been impressed by the Avalanche high to backside since arriving in Denver.
“Everybody’s dialed in and actually dedicated,” Coyle stated. “I feel that’s why they’re on the calibre they play yearly and why administration goes all-in with this crew. There’s no guessing the place we stand or the place we will get to. It’s simply form of identified.
“That’s what we try to do on daily basis.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first revealed March 19, 2025.
© 2025 The Canadian Press
Source link