Maple Leafs’ Stolarz comes out swinging: ‘This is what you live for’ ...Middle East

TORONTO — Three hard shoves to the back, a fierce chop to the thigh, and a cold shoulder.

Down goes Ridly Greig.

Up goes Anthony Stolarz’s stock.

“I was just caught up in the heat of the battle,” said Stolarz, spewing truth before telling a fib. “I didn’t even know who it was.”

Sure.

Just like observers of this Battle of Ontario reboot don’t know who the series MVP is through two games, after Stolarz has dialed his career-best win streak to 10 games, posted a save percentage (.934) as shiny as his mask, handily outduelled a recent Vezina champ, and fought his own battles against Ottawa’s crease-crashing antagonist.

“I wouldn’t go after Stollie if I was him,” smiles Oliver Ekman-Larsson, whose name is etched on the Cup in the same block as the beast from Edison, N.J.

Yeah, you can argue that Greig didn’t deserve a coincidental penalty on one of the more entertaining plays from Game 2.

“The video speaks for itself. I didn’t see the roughing from Ridly,” Travis Green says. “Stolarz is a fiery guy.”

But you can’t argue against the last bit of the opposing coach’s comments Wednesday.

“I’ve taken quite a few penalties in my day,” Stolarz grins.

If the foundation of the first Toronto Maple Leafs’ 2-0 playoff series lead in 23 years sounds proud about that last bit, he should be.

Since turning pro, the 31-year-old is on his eighth team, fifth franchise, and third league.

Yet this is his very first time being an NHL playoff starter.

After Stolarz’s final appearance before barging into the post-season, he conceded that he was “probably” playing the best hockey of his knee-injury-riddled, ballcap-wearing life. Then he said some nice things about all the teammates blocking shots in front of him.

There is no “probably” about it, folks.

Stolarz rebounded strong from another mid-season knee operation to surpass eventual 2025 Vezina winner Connor Hellebuyck for the best save percentage in the NHL this season (.926) and crushed career highs in appearances (34), wins (21), and shutouts (four).

While organizational depth charts and a stream of doctor appointments had tagged Stolarz as a “career backup,” the big man himself has had too much belief to accept No. 2 status — even as he patiently rode that to a ring last June in Florida, behind future Hall of Famer Sergei Bobrovsky.

“There’s never a doubt in my ability. I know that I’m one of the best in the world,” Stolarz said upon signing a team-friendly, two-year contract with the Maple Leafs as a free agent in July.

Leafs GM Brad Treliving was shrewd enough to notice that Stolarz had been blocked by some elite workhorses and franchise No. 1s in previous stops.

“There’s not a lot of net there, right? There wasn’t going to be a lot of starts,” Treliving said. “He’s big (six-foot-six, 243 pounds). He’s athletic. I think goaltenders, as we all know, they take some time to mature in their game. He’s done that.”

The Leafs pitched Stolarz on a 1A-1B situation with younger homegrown talent Joseph Woll, then Stolarz made certain he was the A down the stretch.

“Only one of us can play. And you want to get as many starts as you can. So, when my name is called, I want to go in there and seize the opportunity. But at the same time, too, when I’m not, I pride myself in being a good teammate,” Stolarz said.

“It’s all about patience and making sure I’m ready for the opportunity. Last year, being able to be behind Bob to see how he conducted his day-to-day routine and what it took to prepare and sit next to him in the locker room and just speak to him — that went pretty far for me. So, I’m just trying to take all that experience from last year and roll it over.”

Any frustration that it has taken eight seasons to be the man in the playoffs?

“Obviously, you want your opportunity. But at the end of the day, I’m playing in the NHL,” Stolarz said. “I like to have fun out there. Like to enjoy the moment.”

Does he ever.

Stolarz — who is on record saying he doesn’t want to be one of those “weirdo” goalies — is laid-back and one of the boys off the ice. On it, he’s a mouthpiece.

He’s shouting instructions at the defenders in front of him, complimenting teammates on their sacrificial shot blocks, and he’s slapping his stick harder than any goalie we’ve seen when a penalty ends.

Stolarz will own his mistakes, but he won’t let them eat tunnels of doubt into his mind like some playoff goalies of Leafs past.

Straight up, the man has swagger. That’s nothing new, apparently.

“He was good in the minors with us, good in Philly. Everywhere he’s been, he’s been good, right?” says Toronto’s Scott Laughton, who was also teammates with Stolarz in their early Flyers days.

“So, it’s a well-deserved chance. I knew how good he was. And the last stretch coming in, he’s been excellent for us. We’re very comfortable with him. He plays the puck really well, too. I think that’s pretty underrated.”

As is his ability to handle the pressure, the moment, the market.

So, are we seeing a different Stolarz than the one trying to find his footing as a backup?

“Exact same guy,” Laughton explains. “I’ve spent a lot of time with him since I’ve been here. We spent a lot of time in Philly together, so it’s great to be back with each other. Just a great human.

“Yeah, he’s not like a typical goalie. Like, you can talk to him before games, joke around with him. Just a laid-back guy. And I think that really helps his game and helps him in this market, too.”

Funny how long things can take.

The Maple Leafs have waited a long time for a goaltender like Stolarz, just as Stolarz has waited forever for a shot like the one he’s getting in Toronto.

Why not come into spring swinging?

“It’s an intense battle, you know,” Stolarz says.

“This is what you live for. This is playoff hockey.”

Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( Maple Leafs’ Stolarz comes out swinging: ‘This is what you live for’ )

Also on site :

• British brothers worth $9 billion quit U.K. as wealth exodus grows
• China supports free trade, central bank governor says in Washington meeting, CCTV reports
• Man shot by police at Toronto airport