The Toronto Maple Leafs and Florida Panthers were already set for a heated playoff series, but after Game 1, things have officially boiled over. Leafs goaltender Anthony Stolarz suffered a scary injury after being elbowed in the head by Florida’s Sam Bennett, a moment that has enraged fans, players, and especially head coach Craig Berube.
Stolarz collapsed on the bench and even vomited from the impact, forcing a trip to the hospital in an ambulance. That’s the kind of scene no hockey fan wants to see. Despite all this, Leafs head coach Craig Berube kept fans on edge by not ruling Stolarz out for Game 2. But by Wednesday morning skate, it was official: Anthony Stolarz is out, Joseph Woll is in, per Toronto Leafs Insider.
It was scary. It was serious. And here’s the kicker, it wasn’t even called a penalty.
Even worse, the NHL’s Department of Player Safety reviewed the play and decided there would be no suspension for Bennett. That set off a wave of anger from Leafs fans, players, coaches, and basically anyone who cares about fair play and player safety.
Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube is not known for sugarcoating things. And after the game, he made it crystal clear how he felt.
Calling out Bennett directly, Berube told the media the elbow was “clear as day”, a deliberate attempt to injure or at least rattle the goalie.
Berube didn’t stop at Bennett. He also called out the officiating crew, the same referees, Graham Skilliter and Chris Rooney, who were on the ice last year when Bennett gave Matthew Knies a concussion in another no-penalty situation. Two playoff hits. Same player. Same refs. No calls. Leafs Nation is putting the pieces together, and they do not like the picture.
With Stolarz out for Game 2, the Leafs have turned to Joseph Woll, who will be starting his first NHL playoff game this season. Woll was thrust into action during Game 1 after Stolarz got hurt, but without a warmup or rhythm, he looked a bit shaky. Now, with a full skate under his belt and the team behind him, the pressure is on to prove he’s playoff-ready.
Matt Murray, another familiar face, will be the backup tonight. Murray has battled injuries of his own, so seeing him healthy and ready to go is at least a comforting sign of depth for the Leafs.
Stolarz, meanwhile, wasn’t seen at morning skate, which strongly suggests he’s still dealing with head injury symptoms, likely a concussion. Recovery timelines for concussions vary, so his status for the rest of the series is unclear.
Leafs nation declares war on Sam Bennett
Toronto fans have had enough of Sam Bennett. In fact, someone in the city has gone full “Wild West,” printing out “WANTED: Dead or Alive” posters with Bennett’s face on them and even adding a fake $1,000,000 reward. These posters are being spotted all around downtown Toronto and even handed out by fans near Scotiabank Arena.
Of course, it’s all a joke. Nobody’s actually putting a bounty on Bennett. But the message is clear: Sam Bennett is now the most hated man in Toronto.
He’ll be booed every time he touches the puck in Game 2, and probably every other time he even breathes on the ice.
With Bennett causing damage and the league doing nothing, fans are now calling for Ryan Reaves to be inserted into the lineup for Game 2. Reaves is one of the toughest players in the NHL, a guy who’s not afraid to lay down the law physically.
While Berube praised his team for staying composed during Game 1, he hasn’t ruled out making some lineup changes. If Reaves plays, he could deliver a message the league refused to send: that Toronto won’t be pushed around.
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That said, the Leafs still want to play smart hockey. They’re not looking for revenge penalties or suspensions, they want wins, and they already have a 1-0 series lead.
The Leafs have a golden chance tonight. If they take Game 2, they go up 2-0 in the series before heading to Florida for Games 3 and 4. That puts massive pressure on the Panthers and gives Toronto some breathing room.
It also shows the rest of the league something important: that this Leafs team isn’t soft anymore. They’re fast, skilled, and yes, tough when they need to be.
Woll’s performance will be key. So will the response from the Leafs’ top stars like Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, and William Nylander. If they can bury some pucks early and take control, Toronto fans will forget all about the drama at least for one night.
The Leafs know what’s at stake. And Game 2 might just be their biggest statement of the season.