Anthony Stolarz update: Maple Leafs goalie hospitalized after scary warmup injury
Photo credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images
Anthony Stolarz avoided a worse outcome Saturday, and Craig Berube got the update the Maple Leafs badly needed after a scary scene in Ottawa.
Toronto announced Stolarz was taken to the hospital for precautionary imaging after a puck struck him in the throat during warmups.
A few hours later, the club said he had been released and would return to Toronto with the team.
That changed the mood around the Leafs right away. What looked like a possible major setback turned into a more encouraging overnight update, even if the team still hasn't laid out a timetable for his next start.
The timing made it even tougher for Toronto because Stolarz was expected to start. Instead, Joseph Woll had to jump in on the fly and handled 38 shots in a 5-2 loss to the Senators.
William Nylander's warmup shot was the one that caught Stolarz, and that's the kind of freak play that can rattle an entire bench before puck drop. Toronto never really got control of the night after that.
For Berube, the biggest takeaway wasn't the result. It was that Stolarz was released from hospital and able to travel back with the group after a frightening trip out of the crease area.
The Leafs still need Anthony Stolarz in this race
That matters because Toronto's margin is already thin. The Maple Leafs sit at 29-29-13, and every crease decision carries more weight with the club sitting outside the playoff cut line.
Stolarz's own season has been uneven, but he still matters to this roster.
He has played 22 games and carries a .894 save percentage, which tells you Toronto still needs options beyond riding one goalie every night.
"Maple Leafs goaltender Anthony Stolarz was released from hospital following precautionary imaging and will return to Toronto with the team."
There's another layer here too. Stolarz already missed time earlier this season, so any new scare around his health is going to grab attention fast inside this market.
Berube doesn't need drama in the crease this late in the schedule.
He needs stability, clean starts, and a tandem that gives the Leafs a chance to stack points over the final stretch.
Saturday's update didn't answer every question, but it did remove the darkest one.
Stolarz was checked, released, and back with the team, which is the only outcome Toronto could have asked for after that warmup scare.
Now the next story is simple. The Leafs need to see whether Anthony Stolarz can get back in the rotation quickly because this club can't afford another crease problem right now.
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Anthony Stolarz rushed to hospital after frightening warmup injury for Maple Leafs
Anthony Stolarz rushed to hospital after frightening warmup injury for Maple Leafs