Anthony Stolarz Avoids Injury After Head Hit as Morgan Rielly Takes No Exception
Photo credit: Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images
Anthony Stolarz suffered another serious near injury for a second game this preseason.
A collision between Stolarz and Detroit Red Wings forward Lucas Raymond created injury fears for the Leafs starting netminder.
Late in the first period, Raymond knocked into Stolarz, hitting the goalie along the side of the head, causing the ire of Morgan Rielly in response.
Stolarz Near Injury Brings Back Painful Playoff Memory
This is the second game this preseason in which Stolarz has dealt with a hit to the head, having been crashed into by Laurent Dauphin against the Montreal Canadiens.
Stolarz exited game one of the Leafs second round playoff battle against the Florida Panthers after taking a hit to the head from Florida's Sam Bennett.
The Leafs were eliminated from the playoff in seven games, having struggled to keep pucks out of the net, and witn Stolarz having suffered a concussion.
With Joseph Woll currently out for Toronto, any injury to Stolarz would put the Leafs in a nightmare scenario in net with the team's main option being rookie Dennis Hildeby, or James Reimer, currently on a PTO.
Anthony Stolarz may be the one player the Toronto Maple Leafs cannot afford to lose this season.
Loss Of Anthony Stolarz Would Spell Disaster For Toronto
Already without Joseph Woll, losing Anthony Stolarz would be nothing short of catastrophic for the Leafs.
Stolarz is already projected to have a more difficult workload than ever before, never having played 41+ games in an NHL season, and already extended to be the Leafs starter, he'll have a potential challenge right away.
A Leafs team relying on Hildeby or Reimer is one that could risk making it to the playoffs at all. Hildeby has just six appearances to his name with a poor 3.16GAA and .878SV%, while Reimer is no longer being played as a starter, and at this time still unsigned.
Woll returning could alleviate some of the difficulties if they were to lose Stolarz, but when he'll be back is still unfortunately an unknown.
On Stolarz, another head injury could be a major risk to Stolarz who has already dealt with a concussion, and another one a second season in a row risks being career ending.
Toronto will have to balance not overdoing Stolarz and avoid the risk of injury, but at the same time being able to rely on him, avoiding the team falling apart before things begin.
TRENDING NOW
