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The Leafs Have Established Starting Goalie Order for Friday and Saturday Back-to-Back

Originally posted on Maple Leafs Daily
By Ryan Smitheram | Last updated Nov 8, 2024 3:28 PM ET

The Leafs selected their starting goalie for Friday's game against the Red Wings, which also establishes who will receive Saturday's start against the Canadiens.

On the opening day of free agency, Anthony Stolarz decided to join the Leafs on a two-year deal that carries an AAV of $2.5M per season. On the same day, the Leafs also finalized a 3-year extension with Joseph Woll.

There were plenty of detractors throughout the off-season and pre-season who wrote off the Leafs' inexperienced tandem, but thankfully, they have been proven wrong so far.

Heading into a back-to-back situation this weekend, the Leafs will turn to Stolarz on Friday night against the Red Wings as he occupied the home net during the Leafs' optional, morning skate. That should also solidify Woll's start Saturday against the Canadiens.

Heading into this season, Stolarz had not appeared in more than 30 games in a season, but is well on his way to surpassing that number as Friday will mark his tenth start of the season in just 14 games. In his 9 games to date, Stolarz is 5-2-2 with a 2.12 GAA and .928 save percentage along with 1 shutout, which he earned in his last start against the Boston Bruins, stopping all 29 shots he faced.

A former second-round pick of the Philadelphia Flyers, Stolarz has had stops in Philadelphia, Edmonton, Anaheim, and last season in Florida, where he won the Stanley Cup. Over 117 games, 92 of which he has started, Stolarz owns a 48-33-11 record with a 2.64 GAA and .916 save percentage.

The Leafs appear to have gotten a real bargain on a legit goaltender, folks. Someone pinch me, because I must be dreaming.

This article first appeared on Maple Leafs Daily and was syndicated with permission.

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