Is the Old Anthony Stolarz Back for the Maple Leafs?

Something about Anthony Stolarz felt familiar on Wednesday night. Nothing spectacular or flashy. Just really good. Stolarz stopped 26 of 27 shots as the Toronto Maple Leafs held on for a 2-1 win over the New York Islanders. For a while, he looked like the goalie Toronto thought it was getting when it signed him.

That’s what makes this so interesting. Stolarz came out of the gate hot with the Maple Leafs in 2024-25, but last season didn’t go the same way. He played only 26 games, but finished 10-10-3 with an .893 save percentage and a 3.28 goals-against average. Injuries didn’t help. The point is that it’s tough to find a rhythm when injuries keep interrupting your season.

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One Game Does Not Make a Season, Still Stolarz Looked Strong

Look, it could just be one good night. Or it could be the beginning of something. Either way, Toronto started strong and was up 2-0 in the first. Colton Sissons redirected a Nick Paul pass for the opener, and Easton Cowan added a second goal before the period wrapped up.

From there, Stolarz did his job. The Islanders created chances and even outshot Toronto 27-26, but he was always in the right place. He kept his cool, followed the puck well and made a few saves that could’ve turned the game around.

One of the best came on Anthony Duclair, when Stolarz slid across and got there with his right pad. He carried the shutout into the third period before Emil Heineman scored shorthanded with 5:51 left. Suddenly, it was 2-1, and the final few minutes became a little more interesting than anyone in Toronto probably wanted. Stolarz held on.

Maybe Bobrovsky Can Help Stolarz, Too

This is where Toronto’s goaltending situation gets interesting. Sergei Bobrovsky is supposed to be the No. 1 goalie. That’s why the Maple Leafs brought him in. But Stolarz doesn’t have to view that as a threat. He can also see it as an opportunity to learn from a veteran who has played a lot of hockey at the highest level.

Maybe Bobrovsky can help Stolarz rediscover the form that made him so effective in his first season with the Maple Leafs. And maybe Stolarz can make the decision about who plays a little more complicated.

Nobody should make too much of one game. Goaltending has a funny way of making one good night look like the beginning of something and one bad night look like the end of something else.

But Stolarz looked sharp Wednesday. More importantly, he looked comfortable. For a Maple Leafs team that needs dependable goaltending, that might be the most encouraging part of all. Maybe the Stolarz Toronto liked so much in his first season is still there.

Maybe he just needed a chance to find his game again.

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