Can Joseph Woll lead the Toronto Maple Leafs past the Florida Panthers in the playoffs?

The Toronto Maple Leafs find themselves in the second round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs, which has been marked by unexpected challenges and surprise performances. A matchup against the Florida Panthers would not be easy, and goaltending was expected to be important.

A pivotal moment came during Game 1 of the second-round series when starting goaltender Anthony Stolarz suffered a concerning head injury after taking some hits with a puck to the head and an elbow from Panthers forward Sam Bennett. Stolarz’s subsequent hospitalization, without a return date, put backup goaltender Joseph Woll right into the starting spot. 

When Woll stepped into the starting role, he immediately faced pressure to maintain the team’s momentum. His performance in this series has been a mix of resilience, skill, and willingness to adapt to the situation.

Ice cold Woll

In the immediate aftermath of Stolarz’s injury, Woll was called in to protect the net for the rest of Game 1. Despite the cold start with no warmup, he managed to make 17 saves on 20 shots, contributing to the Maple Leafs’ narrow 5–4 victory. With this performance, although he looked shaky in the moment compared to Stolarz, he set a positive tone for his time as the series went on.

Coming into Games 2 and 3 a bit more prepared, Woll continued to demonstrate his competence in the playoffs. He recorded a combined total of 56 saves from 64 shots, reflecting a save percentage of .875. While the Panthers continued to play better with their loaded offence, Woll proved he was up to the task.

Game 4 was the most significant challenge for Woll and the worst performance of the series for the Leafs, as the Panthers came out ridiculously hot with four power plays and outshooting the Leafs 15–4. Woll saved 35 of 37 shots throughout the game, but the Leafs failed to score and ultimately fell 2–0, allowing the Panthers to make the series even at two apiece. Despite the loss, Woll was the only Leaf who came to play and had arguably his best performance of the playoffs.

Over the course of this series, Woll has faced a total of 121 shots, making 108 saves, resulting in a save percentage of .893. This may not be that impressive, but his play has given the Leafs a chance to win night in and night out. Despite not starting the playoffs, he has shown that he can play calmly when the lights get brighter 

Looking ahead

The Leafs’ much-improved defence has played an integral part in supporting Woll during this series. The Leafs’ star defenders, such as Tanev and McCabe, continue to block shots and join the offensive rush, aiming to provide Woll with the necessary support to succeed. The team’s commitment to cohesive play has been crucial in navigating the challenges posed by the Panthers’ offence.

While Woll’s performance has been good so far, he has not had the lights-out performances that Stolarz has had. Stolarz had been confident in net for the Leafs, boasting a 2.19 GAA and a .901 save percentage before his injury. Woll’s efforts have been stellar in keeping the Leafs competitive, but the team has not seen the fight that Stolarz brings to the game.

As the series goes on, Woll will need to be at his best for the Leafs to succeed. His ability to step into the series quickly and perform under pressure has been impressive. While the Leafs are still missing Stolarz, Woll’s contributions have been instrumental in keeping the team’s playoff aspirations alive.

Joseph Woll’s ability to come into the starting goaltender position in the wake of Anthony Stolarz’s injury has shown that he can battle in the brightest moments. His efforts have not only filled the void left by Stolarz but have also demonstrated that the Leafs have a legitimate star goaltending duo, which gives the team a chance to win on any given night as they continue their pursuit of the Stanley Cup.