The Maple Leafs looked like the Stanley Cup contenders they believe they are in Monday’s Game 1 win over the reigning champion Panthers, but they enter Game 2 with a serious injury concern.
Goaltender Anthony Stolarz was hospitalized after the win and appeared to vomit on the bench after multiple hits to the head. The Maple Leafs pulled Stolarz in favor of Joseph Woll, who finished out the game.
Stolarz has been a bit of a revelation for Toronto this season, entering the year as a career backup but posting a .926 save percentage and 2.14 GAA to overtake Woll as the team’s primary goalie before the playoffs.
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Here are the latest updates on Stolarz’s condition and status going forward.
Anthony Stolarz injury update
Stolarz was taken out of Scotiabank Arena on a stretcher during Monday night’s game and hospitalized in Toronto. He was released by Tuesday morning, though his exact diagnosis is not publicly known.
Stolarz appeared to take two hits to the head during Monday’s contest. A puck shot by Sam Bennett knocked his face mask off in the early minutes, and an elbow to the head from Bennett sent him to the ice. It was shortly after the elbow from Bennett that Stolarz was seen vomiting on the bench and was replaced by Woll.
Stolarz was pulled after this collision with Bennett https://t.co/Xns4P1VzVd pic.twitter.com/CxWuBJlFW6
— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) May 6, 2025
The Maple Leafs and Panthers play Wednesday, Friday and Sunday, so there is not much of opportunity for extended rest and recovery time for Stolarz between games. If Stolarz isn’t ready for Game 2 or beyond, Woll will step in after making 41 starts during the regular season.
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Will Sam Bennett be suspended?
Bennett is not expected to face discipline for the hit to Stolarz’s head, The Athletic’s Chris Johnston reported Tuesday.
While Stolarz did receive a blow from Bennett, it was unclear whether there was any level of intentionality behind it — it’s also possible the puck Stolarz took to the head (shot by Bennett, ironically) played a role in the injury. Bennett and Stolarz were teammates with the Panthers last season.
Some key Maple Leafs figures took aim at Bennett after the win, indicating they were in favor of discipline.
“Elbow to the head, clearly,” coach Craig Berube said. “Clear as day.”
Matthew Knies encouraged the NHL to review the hit by Bennett. “Hopefully the league will take a look and handle it and protect our players,” he said.
Despite those calls, The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun reports the Maple Leafs “don’t want to waste energy” on the controversy and prefer to focus on preparing for the rest of the series.
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