Maple Leafs Announce Starter for Crucial Game 5 of the Battle of Ontario

As the Maple Leafs heading Game 5 against Ottawa, it's potentially one of the biggest, if not the biggest game in a long time for the team. With a chance to shut the series down and move onto the second round, the team is going to be motivated to get it done.

However, the question remains about who is going to start? Joseph Woll was dealing with an illness and Anthony Stolarz might not have everything the Maple Leafs need to win, given his supposed struggles.

But he's been too good to ignore, and the team is going to turn to him once again as it was announced Stolarz once again controls the crease on Tuesday night.

It's not really surprising considering that Stolarz has been pegged as the starter for the playoffs, and it's hard to throw Joseph Woll in there without many reps and with how vital each game has been. They could have started him in Game 4, but gave Stolarz the nod instead.

He's been great minus that fourth game where he didn't have the best numbers, but still has a 3-1-0 record with a 2.29 GAA and .902 SV%; that percentage being skewed by Ottawa's lack of shots and some bad luck thrown in as well.

Toronto is also going to be throwing out the same lineup as they did in Game 4, and perhaps a change of scenery is exactly what the team needs, and heading back home will help immensely in that regard. The fans are going to be rabid, and with how well they played in Games 1 and 2; they'll be a huge factor.

Ottawa is on the ropes, and will be unless they can win the next two games, but they still end up back at Scotiabank Arena, and with how Toronto's history has played out with Game 7's, they would be doing themselves a great favor ending it on Tuesday.

A lot of that will depend on Stolarz, and though he's been great this series, Ottawa is going to hound him harder than ever. It's up to him to weather the storm and be that brick wall Toronto needs him to be.

Or they're going to look to another Woll to help turn the tide.