Joseph Woll ready to move on after first postseason loss since 2023

As the series shifted to Sunrise on Friday, the Florida Panthers managed to get the 5-4 overtime win, cutting the Toronto Maple Leafs’ series lead in half.

Toronto came out hot to start the game, but unfortunately couldn’t get the job done, allowing three goals in succession from the Panthers in the second period, and ultimately falling in OT.

Having stepped into the starter’s spotlight in the place of the injured Anthony Stolarz, Joseph Woll finished with 31 saves on 36 shots for an .861 SV% in his second start of the postseason, unable to steal it for Toronto. Speaking after Friday’s game, Woll said he’ll just have to leave this one in the rearview and gear up for the next game.

“Shake it off,” Woll said. “Bounces go both ways in hockey, just out on the wrong side. We’ve done a good job of sticking to our process. That’s what we fall back on.”

It’s the first postseason loss for Woll since May 2023 against the Panthers, and breaks a four-game unbeaten streak for the 26-year-old tracing back into the regular season. Woll’s last defeat came on April 8th at the hands of, you guessed it, the Panthers.

While Woll has been generally reliable for Toronto all year, Stolarz won the playoff starting job by being a difference-maker, a goalie who can come up with the big saves when it really counts. Friday’s loss is a reminder of what the team is missing in Stolarz, who was off to a solid start this postseason with a 4-2 record and a 2.19 GAA.

One goal in particular that stood out was Jonah Gadjovich’s go-ahead marker in the second period for Florida (originally credited to Tomas Nosek).