“Anthony Stolarz was taken out of Scotiabank Arena on a stretcher during the third period of tonight’s game, per sources.” Yeah… that quote hit like a puck to the gut. As round two of the NHL playoffs lit up between Paul Maurice’s Panthers and Craig Berube’s Maple Leafs, the energy was already sky-high. I mean, what do you expect when you toss the winners of the Battle of Florida and the Battle of Ottawa into one rink? A tea party? Nah, this was full-blown playoff mayhem. It took William Nylander just 33 seconds to let the Panthers know they were in for a war, and that first goal? Just the start of a Maple Leafs onslaught. But the game wasn’t just about goals—it was about hits, heartbreaks, and that rough twist no one saw coming.
SDPN’s Jesse Blake summed up the chaos, saying a ‘bump’ from Sam Bennett had Stolarz down and out. But it didn’t feel like just a “bump” when the guy didn’t get back up. Elliotte Friedman chimed in too, saying: “Joseph Woll is in for Stolarz… a few minutes ago, Stolarz took an elbow from Sam Bennett.” Fans were holding their breath thinking maybe he’d be back after intermission, but nope, Friedman followed up with the gut punch: “Leafs announce Stolarz will not return… Woll in goal.” And now, with Paul Maurice breaking his silence and fans spiraling about the goalie situation, the tension’s thick. Let’s just say… this series isn’t just about who wins, it’s about who survives.
Dave McCarthy, the Toronto correspondent over at @NHLdotcom, jumped on X with a post-game gem that had fans raising eyebrows. He shared Paul Maurice’s response to the Sam Bennett hit on Stolarz, and let’s just say… the man kept it classic Maurice—dry wit, cool under pressure, and just a sprinkle of chaos. “You (media) will do your thing, the League will do its thing and I’ll coach the next game… hopefully…you never know after that start.” Between the hit, the stretcher, and this spicy post-game energy, the playoffs just added another layer of drama, and Maurice? He’s clearly not losing sleep; yet.
Paul Maurice on Sam Bennett hit on Stolarz:
“You (media) will do your thing, the League will do its thing and I’ll coach the next game… hopefully…you never know after that start.”#LeafsForever #TimeToHunt
— Dave McCarthy (@DaveAMcCarthy) May 6, 2025
This story is developing…
The post “Do Your Thing”: Paul Maurice Opens Up on Sam Bennett’s Anthony Stolarz Hit as Goalies Health Causes Distress appeared first on EssentiallySports.