Maple Leafs’ Dennis Hildeby will start vs. Blue Jackets

Originally posted on TheLeafsnation | By Arun Srinivasan | Last updated Jan 22, 2025 11:25 AM ET

Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Dennis Hildeby will be starting against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Wednesday evening, head coach Craig Berube confirmed.

Hildeby was the first goalie off the ice during Wednesday’s optional skate, and will be making his first appearance since a 3-0 loss to the Vancouver Canucks on January 11.

The 23-year-old has posted a 3-2-0 record with a .891 save percentage and 3.18 goals against average for the Maple Leafs this season. Hildeby will be getting a spot start in place of Joseph Woll, who is operating as the Maple Leafs’ No. 1 goaltender, while Anthony Stolarz recovers from a procedure on his knee. Woll received a maintenance day Tuesday, but attended Wednesday’s optional skate.

“Woll has had a lot of emotional games lately,” Berube said Wednesday morning via The Athletic’s Joshua Kloke.

Woll has started Toronto’s past four games, with three wins and he was sensational in the Maple Leafs’ 7-3 comeback victory over the Montreal Canadiens.

“Throughout my life, I’ve always had a mindset of hard work, and so it’s learning how to manage the load,” Woll said recently via Sportsnet’s Luke Fox.

“When’s the right time to reel it back and when’s the right time to push it. So, we’ve got a great staff, and I trust them. Just doing the best I can and taking each experience to learn things.”

Max Pacioretty was placed on injured reserve retroactive to January 18, while the Maple Leafs called up Jacob Quillan from the AHL’s Toronto Marlies. Pacioretty is eligible to return on January 25, and will miss Saturday’s game against the Ottawa Senators. Quillan has recorded six goals and 15 points in 35 games with the Marlies.

Berube usually emphasizes the importance of players getting into a practice, before suiting up for the Leafs, so it appears unlikely that Quillan will play against the Blue Jackets.