Elliotte Friedman Reveals Who the Maple Leafs Are Leaning on in Net for Game 1 of the Playoffs
The Toronto Maple Leafs have a pair of capable goaltenders at their disposal, but which one is coach Craig Berube more likely to start for the Stanley Cup Playoffs?
Perhaps no team in the NHL is facing more pressure to go on an extended run in the Stanley Cup Playoffs than the Toronto Maple Leafs.
The team have advanced past the opening round just once since 2004 and as Leafs fans know, their first foray into the second round of the postseason was over almost as quickly as it began, with a five-game series loss to the Florida Panthers in 2023.
Not only is Toronto's first round opponent for 2025 yet to be determined, but so is which goaltender coach Craig Berube will tap as the starter
Toronto Doesn't Need To Focus On One Starter: Elliotte Friedman
Both Joseph Woll and Anthony Stolarz have shown they're capable of shouldering the starting responsibilities, but is Berube leaning more in one direction than the other?
Per NHL analyst Elliotte Friedman on Sportsnet 590 The FAN, Berube could utilize both goaltenders if the Leafs go on a deep run and suggests that it will not be performance-based.
Right now, Stolarz is ahead. But who knows? We still have 2 weeks to go in the season, right?
So, I don't understand how people can't get their heads wrapped around the fact that if the Maple Leafs go on a dep run, both of these guys are going to play.
I don't think this is a goaltending setup as we are used to. It's gonna be something different - Woll and Stolarz, they're not guys who are used to playing 70 games or 25 games in a row.
They're both guys who have gotten hurt before. They're gonna need both of these guys. And I don't even think it will be performance-related.
There's gonna be times where they look at it and go, 'This guy needs a rest and the other guy's gotta play.' I just think that's the way it's gonna work.
So, I don't understand how people can't get their heads wrapped around the fact that if the Maple Leafs go on a dep run, both of these guys are going to play.
I don't think this is a goaltending setup as we are used to. It's gonna be something different - Woll and Stolarz, they're not guys who are used to playing 70 games or 25 games in a row.
They're both guys who have gotten hurt before. They're gonna need both of these guys. And I don't even think it will be performance-related.
There's gonna be times where they look at it and go, 'This guy needs a rest and the other guy's gotta play.' I just think that's the way it's gonna work.
While it's clear that Toronto is undecided on who they are going to go with Game One, they really can't go wrong with either. Woll has shown he can stand tall when it counts, and Anthony Stolarz has a chip on his shoulders.
For the first time ever, Toronto actually has some reliable goaltending. Is this what finally pushes them over the top?
| POLL | ||
AVRIL 1 | 597 ANSWERS Elliotte Friedman Reveals Who the Maple Leafs Are Leaning on in Net for Game 1 of the Playoffs Which goaltender should the Maple Leafs start in the Stanley Cup Playoffs? | ||
| Anthony Stolarz | 540 | 90.5 % |
| Joseph Woll | 57 | 9.5 % |
| List of polls | ||