How’s that for an indication of severity?
The beginning goaltender is recovering from the suspected concussion he suffered in Monday and there’s no timeline for his return.
All eyes shift to 1B Joseph Woll, who had been patiently staying prepared till he was rushed into motion midway by means of Game 1 and did sufficient to safe a 5-4 victory over the late-pressing Florida Panthers.
Wednesday marks Woll’s first begin in 20 days (that meaningless regular-season finale towards the Pink Wings) and first begin of any consequence in 24 days.
“You go from type of chillin’ to being entrance line of the motion,” the 26-year-old mentioned.
Woll ought to be accustomed to playoff reduction by now.
In 2023 and 2024, he changed starter Ilya Samsonov midstream.
Woll’s spectacular .924 save share in eight profession playoff video games appears to be like even shinier once you take away his 4 reduction appearances.
He’s a .950 in his 4 playoff starts.
Something near that ought to do the trick.
“You don’t actually have any doubts, as a result of you realize he’s prepared. Ever since I received right here, we’ve type of been (alternating) goalies, and he’s accomplished a extremely good job for us. So, I believe we’ve got confidence in all our goalies,” Scott Laughton says.
“Very devoted to his craft. Works extraordinarily arduous. Takes care of his physique. A fantastic professional.”
Throughout Stolarz’s final extended absence, from Dec. 12 to Feb. 6, Woll held the fort with a 12-7-0 document and a .904 save share.
Woll might be backed up by veteran Matt Murray and never prospect Dennis Hildeby, who was Game 1’s emergency alternative.
Coach Craig Berube merely desires an skilled possibility and one other sage voice within the room.
“Been there, accomplished it,” Berube says of Murray. “Gained.”
Tkachuk at full energy?
The taunting chants rained down from Scotiabank Enviornment’s higher bowl Monday evening: “Bra-dy’s bet-ter!”
And whereas huge bro Matthew Tkachuk has undoubtedly loved the extra achieved profession, the winger’s impression in Game 1 was quiet by his requirements. He has but to place a Bradyesque stamp on the collection.
It’s early, after all. And Matthew did log 19:06 in Game 1 — probably the most ice time he has seen in any recreation since getting injured on the 4 Nations Face-Off.
“I solely performed him about 12 minutes the primary evening (of playoffs),” Panthers coach Paul Maurice notes. “He’s excellent at adapting his recreation to outlive. He performed a recreation with a damaged clavicle two days after he broke it (within the 2023 Stanley Cup Last), and I believe he had our three greatest scoring probabilities and needed to utterly rework how he performed the sport.
“He’s robust. He’s proper. And he’s getting higher.”
As the ultimate buzzer sounded, Tkachuk tried to take a swipe at Mitch Marner’s leg.
“I don’t care,” Marner dismissed. “Simply playin’ hockey.”
The Maple Leafs have a mandate right here: Don’t get dragged into the muck. Rise above the nonsense. Dwell to see Spherical 3.
“Don’t permit ’em to push your buttons. That’s the best way I take a look at it,” Berube says.
Upon conclusion of battles Florida and Ontario, Matthew Tkachuk did choose Brady’s mind relating to Leafs’ weaknesses he might expose.
“Rather a lot about people,” Matthew advised The Pat McAfee Present. “Like, what you’ll be able to exploit with some guys. What guys possibly get a little bit too riled up. What guys you may get off their recreation. What guys are trying like they’re enjoying by means of stuff or look a little bit injured.”
Counterpoint: Matthew himself could also be a little bit injured right here.
Nylander en fuego on Cinco de Mayo
After watching William Nylander observe up his three-point birthday recreation with one other three-point present on Monday, Max Pacioretty can’t assist however admire his linemate’s composure underneath stress.
“I don’t learn about his golf recreation, however I’d hate to guess towards him,” Pacioretty says.
“Looks like he would by no means miss a small putt. He’s received ice in his veins. Typically within the playoffs after a great recreation, like he had in Game 6, it’s simple to type of sit again and say, ‘You already know, I’m good right here for a little bit bit.’ However he comes out and scores 30 seconds in, first shot of the sport, and it reveals how clutch he’s, and the way nicely he’s capable of carry out underneath strain.”
Nylander can turn into the primary participant with three straight multi-goal playoff efforts since Joe Pavelski did so with the Sharks in 2010 and the second skater in franchise historical past to attain the feat, following Alf Skinner towards the Pacific Coast Hockey Affiliation’s Vancouver Millionaires to open the 1918 Stanley Cup Last. (You keep in mind that streak, proper?)
Pacioretty himself leads the Leafs in hits since getting into the playoffs and has linked a pair two-point performances since being elevated to Nylander and John Tavares’s second line.
The tempo and physicality of a grinding Florida crew fits the model of late-career Pacioretty.
“I’m not attempting to reinvent the wheel,” Pacioretty says. “I’m attempting to get the puck to 2 of the most effective gamers on the planet as a lot as I can and make life a little bit bit simpler on them and more durable on the opponent. At this stage, I do know what’s efficient — and that’s to provide them the puck.”
One-Timers: The Maple Leafs haven’t constructed a 2-0 collection lead after a gap spherical for the reason that 1987 division closing ,,, Aaron Ekblad enters the collection after serving his two-game suspension for delivering a forearm shiver to Tampa star Brandon Hagel in Spherical 1. “A giant get for them,” Berube mentioned … If Florida goes to play reckless, the Maple Leafs must make it pay on the power-play. That didn’t occur in Game 1, as Toronto’s PP went 0-for-5 … Florida ahead Mackie Samoskevich is available in for fourth-liner A.J. Greer.
Maple Leafs Game 2 lineup vs. Florida Panthers:
Knies – Matthews – Marner
Pacioretty – Tavares – Nylander
McMann – Domi – Holmberg
Lorentz – Laughton – Järnkrok
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