Why The Maple Leafs' Confidence In Anthony Stolarz Hasn't Faltered After Back-To-Back Losses To Senators

As Ottawa Senators defenseman Thomas Chabot fired a shot from the point in the second period of Game 5, Anthony Stolarz did his best to track the puck. But he couldn’t see anything until it was too late.

“That’s playoff hockey right there,” the goaltender said, following Toronto’s 4-0 loss that forces a Game 6 in Ottawa.

Indeed, Stolarz is correct. The playoffs are all about goals within the crease and through screens. Unfortunately for the Toronto Maple Leafs, Tuesday night didn’t go their way in that area, with the Senators making life difficult in front of Stolarz.

On Chabot’s goal specifically, you could argue that Claude Giroux interfered with Mitch Marner, who was en route to the point to block the shot. Marner not arriving in time allowed the Ottawa defenseman more time to pick his spot, and the rest is history.

“I’m just trying to get to the point. Kind of tough,” Marner said of the play.

The 31-year-old’s save percentage is currently in free-fall, going from a .926 through the first three games of the series, to an .842 through Toronto’s last two games. Five of Ottawa’s 14 goals have come off of point shots.

Following the game, though, Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube listed several reasons for the Senators’ success from the point. He didn’t blame Stolarz, but said that the players in front of him can do more.

‘I Don’t Think There’s Any Panic’: “Maple Leafs Miss Another Series-Closing Opportunity in Frightening Déjà Vu’It was that familiar feeling of tension that Toronto Maple Leafs fans at Scotiabank Arena have felt before. The crowd went silent when Dylan Cozens finished off a 2-on-1 opportunity to give the Ottawa Senators a 2-0 lead midway through the third period in Game 5. Reality set in, when Tim Stutzle and Brady Tkachuk scored empty-net goals to defeat Toronto 4-0 and force a Game 6 at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa on Thursday.

“I thought that shot tonight, he couldn’t see it. So, first of all, we could do a better job off that faceoff,” Berube said. “We’ve got to have a block there, or we’ve got to have guys clearing out in front of the net so we can see the puck. One of the two.”

If you were looking for Joseph Woll to enter the series in Game 6, this quote pretty much shuts that narrative down.

Berube is still confident in Stolarz. The coach alluded to it before Game 5, saying he’s only focused on Stolarz playing. “I don’t think there’s any reason to change right now,” he said.

‘Don’t Think There’s Any Reason To Change’: Why The Maple Leafs Are Sticking With Anthony Stolarz In Goal Following His Worst Game Of The SeasonDespite a shaky start in Ottawa for Game 4, the Toronto Maple Leafs are sticking with goaltender Anthony Stolarz in the blue paint for Game 5 on Tuesday. Head coach Craig Berube confirmed pre-game that the 31-year-old will once again get the start as the Leafs look to eliminate the Ottawa Senators in Game 5 of their first-round series.

And there’s a reason for that.

For the most part, Stolarz hasn’t allowed many egregious goals (aside from his first of the series). His save percentage has dipped significantly over the last two games, but Toronto has also limited Ottawa to 38 shots in that span.

When Toronto needed a save, though, Stolarz gave it to them.

The Senators are doing what the Maple Leafs did well at the beginning of the series: making life difficult on the goaltender. Following Tuesday’s loss, several Maple Leafs players said they will get more bodies in front of Linus Ullmark in Game 6.

“I thought at times and stretches throughout the game, could’ve done a better job getting more guys to the net and making it a little bit tougher on him,” Auston Matthews said Tuesday night.

“This time of year, it’s greasy goals. It’s not the prettiest of things, so that’s the way you got to approach it.”

‘It’s Hard For Him’: Why David Kampf Hasn’t Been Able To Get Into Any Maple Leafs Playoff Games Against SenatorsToronto Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube was so impressed with the way his team finished the regular season that he kept his lineup mostly intact. Unfortunately, for David Kampf, it’s kept the defensive forward on the sidelines and he will miss his fifth consecutive playoff game as a healthy scratch.

If the Maple Leafs want to exit the Battle of Ontario victorious, they’ll need to do the work which gave them the 3-0 series lead in the first place.

Simon Benoit made headlines for setting up Max Domi, who scored in overtime in Game 2. That goal came with tons of bodies in front of Ullmark. As did Benoit’s overtime-winner in Ottawa a few nights later in Game 3.

Toronto will attempt to rewrite the narrative on Thursday with Game 6, and it appears they’ll be doing so with Stolarz behind them in the net.

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