Report: Anthony Stolarz is out of hospital after undergoing evaluation

Stolarz got injured during the second period after taking an elbow to the head from Panthers forward Sam Bennett. Although he remained in the game briefly, he reportedly got sick on the bench just before a Leafs power play and left the game.

Joseph Woll was forced to enter the game in relief, where he went on to stop 17 of 20 shots. It was not an easy situation for him to enter, given that it was his first game action since April 17 and it occurred in the middle of a playoff game against the NHL’s defending Stanley Cup Champions, but he did enough to help his team secure the win.

Dennis Hildeby filled in as the backup goalie for the rest of the game as he was listed on the lineup sheet as the third goalie.

Not much was available regarding Stolarz’s health in the immediate aftermath of the game, but The Nation Network’s Jay Rosehill first reported that he left Scotiabank Arena on a stretcher during the third period and was taken to the hospital. Bennett is reportedly not expected to receive any supplemental discipline for the infraction.

Going into Game 1, Stolarz was having a strong start to the postseason, where he went 4-2 while posting a .901 SV% and 2.21 GAA. He had stopped eight of nine shots against his former team before his injury that prematurely ended his night.

Head coach Craig Berube was not thrilled about the fact that Bennett didn’t receive a penalty on the play, making his thoughts clear when speaking to the media postgame.

Game 2 is scheduled for Wednesday and Woll will likely get the nod for the first time in these playoffs as the Leafs await further updates on Stolarz. The encouraging thing is that he has been discarged from the hospital and is back home resting, but it is unclear the exact severity of the injury and how much time he will miss.

“We didn’t know what happened, but we have all the faith in the world in Joe,” Morgan Rielly said of Woll. “You don’t want anyone to leave the game, but we have faith in our depth and our guys. I thought Joe came in and played well.”