The Toronto Maple Leafs may have left Scotiabank Arena with 5-4 win over the Florida Panthers in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference playoff series, but it came at a cost.
Starting goaltender Anthony Stolarz exited in the second period after a collision with Panthers forward Sam Bennett, in which he took an elbow to the head. Per Panthers coach Paul Maurice, an official saw the collision happen right in front of him and deemed it wasn’t worthy of drawing a penalty.
While no updates were announced on Stolarz’s condition aside from him being evaluated, The Athletic’s Chris Johnston reported the goalie left on a stretcher in the third period.
Per @reporterchris, Anthony Stolarz left Scotiabank Arena on a stretcher during the third period following this collision with Sam Bennett pic.twitter.com/JXDQugOTwr
— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) May 6, 2025
ESPN’s Emily Kaplan reported during the broadcast that while he was on the bench, Stolarz vomited before being helped to the locker room. He was replaced by Joseph Woll, who allowed three goals on 20 shots and nearly below the 4-1 lead the Leafs had when Stolarz left the game.
Concussion Legacy Foundation CEO and neuroscientist Chris Nowinski, who retired from professional wrestling after his own run-ins with concussions, called out the Maple Leafs coaching and medical staff for not immediately seeing warning signs and treating his head injury.
“When I initially posted on Anthony Stolarz I didn’t know they initially left him in for more than two minutes until he started vomiting on the bench,” Nowinski wrote. “We need to do better. PSA: If you vomit multiple times after a brain injury, get to the emergency room.”
If Stolarz isn’t available for Game 2 on Wednesday night, it’ll be Woll’s net. The 26-year-old netminder went 27-14-1 with a 2.71 goals-against average and .909 save percentage in 42 games during the regular season.
Through seven postseason games, Stolarz posted a 2.21 goals-against average and .901 save percentage.
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The Toronto Maple Leafs may have left Scotiabank Arena with 5-4 win over the Florida Panthers in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference playoff series, but it came at a cost.
Starting goaltender Anthony Stolarz exited in the second period after a collision with Panthers forward Sam Bennett, in which he took an elbow to the head. Per Panthers coach Paul Maurice, an official saw the collision happen right in front of him and deemed it wasn’t worthy of drawing a penalty.
While no updates were announced on Stolarz’s condition aside from him being evaluated, The Athletic’s Chris Johnston reported the goalie left on a stretcher in the third period.
Per @reporterchris, Anthony Stolarz left Scotiabank Arena on a stretcher during the third period following this collision with Sam Bennett pic.twitter.com/JXDQugOTwr
— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) May 6, 2025
ESPN’s Emily Kaplan reported during the broadcast that while he was on the bench, Stolarz vomited before being helped to the locker room. He was replaced by Joseph Woll, who allowed three goals on 20 shots and nearly below the 4-1 lead the Leafs had when Stolarz left the game.
Concussion Legacy Foundation CEO and neuroscientist Chris Nowinski, who retired from professional wrestling after his own run-ins with concussions, called out the Maple Leafs coaching and medical staff for not immediately seeing warning signs and treating his head injury.
“When I initially posted on Anthony Stolarz I didn’t know they initially left him in for more than two minutes until he started vomiting on the bench,” Nowinski wrote. “We need to do better. PSA: If you vomit multiple times after a brain injury, get to the emergency room.”
If Stolarz isn’t available for Game 2 on Wednesday night, it’ll be Woll’s net. The 26-year-old netminder went 27-14-1 with a 2.71 goals-against average and .909 save percentage in 42 games during the regular season.
Through seven postseason games, Stolarz posted a 2.21 goals-against average and .901 save percentage.
Related: Nathan MacKinnon’s Cryptic Message Puts Avalanche Front Office on Notice
Related: Pittsburgh Penguins Make Major Sidney Crosby Announcement
