Analyst Determines Maple Leafs No. 1 Goalie and Playoff Starter Selection Process
With the Stanley Cup Playoffs creeping up on the Maple Leafs, analyst Stephen Valiquette revealed who he thinks is best for the team come the first round.
It's going to be a tough road ahead of the Maple Leafs going into the Stanley Cup Playoffs, as there are questions about their consistency, as well as the debate over who should start when the postseason open up: Joseph Woll or Anthony Stolarz?
While both men have shown they are capable of performing to an elite ability, it seems that as of recently, Joseph Woll has been the better of the two, especially when it comes to crunch time, and has saved the team in a lot of scary situations.
Joseph Woll Needs To Start Game One According to NHL Analyst
According to former goaltender and NHL analyst Stephen Valiquette; it should be Woll's job without question:
You need to know your guy is back to his best...I was worried about Stolarz after the Colorado game, and since then has played Florida and Ottawa. He uses a double shuffle when the puck goes from dot to dot, he's get big and square, and it's important he doesn't get too wide.
Jake Sanderson's goal [vs. Ottawa] did Stolarz have his posture? He did not. Did he beat the pass? He did not. Did he have his stance where he had big body illusion? His shoulders were low so he gave up the top.
When he gets wide, he gets small and gets stuck. NHL scorers should not score on an NHL goalie who is stationary off the dot. Why did he show up so small? He needs his feet under him and then has his timing and he'll be ready to go.
I'm looking at the last ten days going into the playoffs, who has their game together? Right now for me, it's not [Anthony] Stolarz, it's [Joseph] Woll.
Jake Sanderson's goal [vs. Ottawa] did Stolarz have his posture? He did not. Did he beat the pass? He did not. Did he have his stance where he had big body illusion? His shoulders were low so he gave up the top.
When he gets wide, he gets small and gets stuck. NHL scorers should not score on an NHL goalie who is stationary off the dot. Why did he show up so small? He needs his feet under him and then has his timing and he'll be ready to go.
I'm looking at the last ten days going into the playoffs, who has their game together? Right now for me, it's not [Anthony] Stolarz, it's [Joseph] Woll.
It's not the first time Valiquette has provided insight into Stolarz' struggles, and recently explained exactly what the hole in his game is that's preventing him from that early season success.
Stolarz has lost his last four games, and wasn't much better as Woll's replacement against Vegas, while owning a 3.19 GAA as well as a brutal .876 SV% over his last five.
That puts his season record to 13-8-3 with a 2.39 GAA and .918 SV%, a bit of a drop-off from the Vezina-esque numbers he put up at the beginning of the year.
He did deal with an injury that kept him out over a month, but has shown no signs of being bothered by anything, and simply just hasn't gotten his groove back yet.
Woll on the other hand has won four of his last five games, and while he's also given up 15 goals (the same as Stolarz), he has a 3.47 GAA and .881 SV%. While his stat line is on par with his partner; it's the high danger situations that help Woll succeed.
Woll this season has a 23-12-0 record with a 2.75 GAA and .905 SV%, but that decreased production has come with a much increased workload, and his backups when Stolarz was out were not necessarily his best partners.
Stolarz will often start strong, get comfortable, then try to do too much and end up letting leads slip away (especially if Toronto's defense starts to get complacent) meanwhile Woll may start off a little slow but when it comes to the last few minutes of the game; he's been lights out.
If Joseph Woll has the hot hand heading into the playoffs, Craig Berube should look no further than to keep him as the #1. However, if he falters and Anthony Stolarz gets things rolling again, he can slide in as the starter in Game One.
Not a bad problem for the Maple Leafs to have, all things considered.
| POLL | ||
MARS 19 | 299 ANSWERS Analyst Determines Maple Leafs No. 1 Goalie and Playoff Starter Selection Process Do you agree with Stephen Valiquette that the Maple Leafs should start Joseph Woll and not Anthony Stolarz? | ||
| Agree | 151 | 50.5 % |
| Disagree | 148 | 49.5 % |
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