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Don’t be throwing a scare into Leafs Nation like that, Anthony Stolarz.
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The Maple Leafs goaltender was the lone Toronto regular who didn’t participate in practice on Monday at the Ford Performance Centre, some 14 hours after he finished turning aside 31 Ottawa Senators shots in a 6-2 Leafs win in Game 1.
“Rest,” Leafs coach Craig Berube said in explaining Stolarz’s absence. “He’s all good. (Getting a practice off) is something we talk to the goalies about, what they feel they need and what they want to do.”
Not that turning to Joseph Woll would have been a disastrous development, of course, but there’s no denying the excellence that Stolarz has been providing all season. For now, the Leafs net belongs to Stolarz.
After the game on Sunday, Stolarz said there were no issues after his right leg struck the post when Sens forward Ridly Greig slid into the crease. Stolarz missed nearly two months during the regular season because of a knee problem, which was corrected with surgery in New York City.
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Woll stayed on the ice for extra work long after practice concluded on Monday, something he might not have done had he thought there was any chance he would be starting in Game 2.
With Stolarz resting, Artur Akhtyamov, recalled on the weekend from the Toronto Marlies, manned the other net at practice.
Perhaps the most important save by Stolarz in the series opener came on Sens captain Brady Tkachuk, who was denied on a breakaway early in the second period with the Leafs leading 2-1.
“I thought he was outstanding,” said Leafs defenceman Morgan Rielly, whose turnover led to the Tkachuk chance. “Like we’ve been talking about all year long, both goalies have been great and, I think as a group, we want to limit chances against.
“He answered the bell for us. Credit to him.”
X: @koshtorontosun
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