Stolarz out of hospital, Bennett says he reached out to 'good friend' after Game 1
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Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Anthony Stolarz has been released from hospital after leaving Scotiabank Arena on a stretcher during Game 1 against the Florida Panthers on Monday, TSN Hockey Insider Pierre LeBrun reports.
Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube declined to rule Stolarz out of Wednesday's Game 2 when speaking to the media Tuesday morning.
“Yeah I don’t know that yet … I’ll probably find out (later) today.” Berube said.
Berube said the team also does not know whether Stolarz is dealing with a concussion. Defenceman Brandon Carlo revealed Stolarz was in the Maple Leafs facility Tuesday morning.
"I think he’s doing well. I’ll allow coach to give any updates on that," Carlo said. "But, overall, I liked the way that he looked this morning when I got to see him for a smile at breakfast, so that’s always a good thing."
Stolarz left Monday's 5-4 victory in the second period with the Maple Leafs leading 4-1. Joseph Woll replaced Stolarz in net at the 10:14 mark of the second frame, with the Maple Leafs announcing that he would not return and was under evaluation at the beginning of the third period.
The 31-year-old netminder is believed to have been injured on a collision with Sam Bennett in front of the net in the second period. Stolarz initially remained in the game after taking Bennett's arm to his head and dropping to the ice during a Panthers power play in the second period. Roughly 10 minutes of real time after the incident, though, Stolarz threw up on the Leafs bench during a commercial break and was removed from the game. He later left Scotiabank Arena on a stretcher and was taken to a local hospital, per TSN Hockey Insider Chris Johnston.
Bennett reached out to Stolarz
Bennett, who Johnston reports is not expected to face supplemental discipline for the hit, told reporters Tuesday he reached out to Stolarz after Monday's game.
The 28-year-old forward said he did receive a response, but did not disclose what was said. He maintained there was no ill intent on the play.
"Stolie's a good friend of mine. I reached out to him. He responded," Bennett said. "Obviously, you never want to see an injury like that. From my point of view, I'm taking a puck to the net. I didn't even know we made contact until after. I'm on the power play. I'm trying to score."
Stolarz spent the 2023-24 season with the Panthers, winning the Stanley Cup with the team last spring.
"Most of this for me is tempered by the fact that Stolie is one of our guys. We love that guy," Panthers head coach Paul Maurice said. "If I had thought that Sam had crossed the line or an edge, I'd probably be more careful with my words. I just didn't think it happened."
Intentional or not, the Maple Leafs called for the league to intervene after Monday's game.
“Elbow to the head. Yeah. Clearly. Clear as day,” Berube said of the incident post-game. “I think we handled it the way we should handle it. I'm not sure why there's not a call on it. But, I get it. They missed calls. But it's clearly a penalty."
“Well, they do their job. They'll look at everything and decide what's necessary," Berube added of the league's Department of Player Safety. "I know it's an elbow.”
"Hopefully the league will handle it and protect our players," said winger Matthew Knies, who was concussed by Bennett when the two teams met in the playoffs in 2023.
Bennett was not made available to the media Monday night after Game 1.
"Obviously we know him really well," Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov said of his former teammate Stolarz after the loss. "He's played really well the whole year and [I'm] happy for him. So hopefully he's OK, but we're concentrating on our game."
Stolarz played all six games in Toronto's first-round series win over Ottawa, posting a 2.21 goals-against average and .901 save percentage.
He stopped eight of nine shots before his departure. Woll made 17 saves in relief.
Game 2 of the first round series is scheduled for Wednesday before play shifts to Florida for Game 3 on Friday.