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Maple Leafs’ Anthony Stolarz will start vs. Blue Jackets, goaltending rotation comes into focus

Originally posted on TheLeafsnation | By Arun Srinivasan | Last updated Apr 5, 2025 11:30 AM ET

Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Anthony Stolarz will get the start Saturday against the Columbus Blue Jackets, head coach Craig Berube confirmed.

“I liked his last game a lot,” Berube said of Stolarz. “I just think we get him into another game here, consecutive games, then we have a back-to-back series against the Florida teams. Really, that’s all the thinking going into it, trying to find a little consistency here moving forward. I’m going to have to split them after tonight, the next two games, and we’ll go from there.”

Stolarz was excellent during Wednesday’s 3-2 victory over the Florida Panthers, making 29 saves.

Joseph Woll will likely start against the Panthers on April 8, with Stolarz in line to return on April 9 against the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Toronto held an optional morning skate Saturday, with Jani Hakanpaa, Simon Benoit, Philippe Myers Steven Lorentz, Pontus Holmberg, Nick Robertson, Max Pacioretty, Max Domi, Scott Laughton, Bobby McMann, Joseph Woll and Stolarz among the participants. It was a true optional skate, with Myers getting shots up on Stolarz, while the forwards worked on routine shooting drills.

Laughton spoke at length about the chemistry he’s developing with Domi and Calle Jarnkrok, and this very well could be Toronto’s third line for the playoffs.

“I think it’s nice,” Laughton said of the line’s positional versatility. “Faceoffs, I think now in the game, whoever’s low usually plays low but it’s nice, but even (Calle Jarnkrok) can play low, take faceoffs on his strong side. It’s nice to have that versatility, you come back in your zone, you’re comfortable there, you’re not looking for switches as much. I think it’s huge, I think it’s going to be huge going down the stretch here. A big faceoff or a big defensive play, you can have that comfortability in your own zone and coming out of it.”