Anthony Stolarz will start for the Leafs on Saturday in Edmonton, coach Jim Hiller announced in a pre-game media session.
“Just a decision, yeah,” is all Hiller would say when asked why Toronto’s back-up goalie is getting the call against the red-hot Oilers.
Sergei Bobrobsky allowed four goals on 25 shots in Toronto’s win over the New York Rangers on Thursday. It was his worst game by save percentage (.840) through eight starts with the Leafs.
Bobrovsky did not take part in Friday’s practice with the team, calling it a scheduled day off the ice for the 38-year-old. Hiller confirmed that Bobrovsky will dress as the back-up goalie in Edmonton.
Stolarz stopped 36 of 38 shots to beat the Columbus Blue Jackets in his last start on Tuesday. It was a good bounce-back effort from the 32-year-old who had allowed five goals on 28 shots in his previous appearance in Utah.
“You guys made a bigger deal out of it than we did,” Hiller said. “It’s a long season and you’re going to have some ups and downs. I thought he was really good in Columbus, though, and gave us a great game despite the score (6-2). We got up early and they pushed a little bit late. He was good. We got a lot of belief in both those two goaltenders and glad we have them as a tandem.”
Stolarz is 3-1-0 on the season with an .898 save percentage. Bobrovsky is 3-3-2 with an .895 save percentage.
The Oilers are 8-1-1 and will likely be the stiffest test for the Leafs during a four-game trip, which starts Saturday and also includes stops in Calgary, Seattle and Vancouver.
Edmonton captain Connor McDavid is off to the hottest start of his career with 31 points in 10 games under new head coach Mike Babcock.
“I don’t know if I see anything different,” Hiller said. “I see a little bit different style of play. I guess the other thing I would say is they’re probably a little fresher than they’ve been in past regular seasons based on the long playoff runs [in 2024 and 2025]. They’ve certainly got their legs, and they’ve been tough to stop.”
McDavid has scored three goals in five career games against Stolarz, who played six games for Edmonton during the 2018-19 season.
Stolarz was sharp in beating the Oilers in Edmonton last season.
With injuries piling up on defence, Dakota Mermis will draw into the Leafs lineup and make his season debut with the team on Saturday. The 32-year-old is projected to start on the third pair beside Oliver Ekman-Larsson.
“We have played a little bit before, so I know him well and obviously a good player,” Ekman-Larsson said. “You know what you’re getting. He’s a hard-working defenceman and makes that first pass easy and quick. So, I like his game.”
Projected Leafs lineup for Saturday’s game:
Cowan - Matthews - Roslovic
Marchenko - Paul - Nylander
McKenna - Sissons - Lettieri
Duhaime - Blueger - MacEwen
McCabe - Raddysh
Rielly - Stecher
Mermis - Ekman-Larsson
Stolarz starts
Bobrovsky