FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Because the Toronto Maple Leafs method a potential halfway level of their second-round collection towards the Florida Panthers, the probability of their beginning goaltender returning this collection nonetheless feels low.
There’s a essential hurdle Anthony Stolarz has not cleared in his restoration from a potential concussion.
“(Stolarz) has not skated but,” Leafs coach Craig Berube mentioned the morning after the Leafs misplaced 5-4 in Sport 3 to the Panthers.
Berube did say Stolarz is “progressing in the fitting path.” He had beforehand left the door open for Stolarz’s return, saying “We’ll see,” forward of Sport 2.
However Saturday’s replace felt way more practical.
The truth that Stolarz has not even begun skating casts doubt over his return this collection. Sport 4 is Sunday night time. The Leafs stay up 2-1 within the collection.
Ought to the collection progress to Sport 6, the Leafs would wish to return to Florida. It’s value questioning if the Leafs would even have Stolarz fly so quickly after his harm, contemplating he did not make the original trip with the workforce for Video games 3 and 4.
Stolarz left Sport 1 after being elbowed within the head by Panthers centre Sam Bennett. Whereas Stolarz remained within the sport for about two minutes of sport motion, he then skated to the Leafs bench and vomited in the course of a TV timeout.
Berube has since confirmed that Stolarz was evaluated on the hospital however has declined to say particularly if he sustained a concussion.
If Stolarz is certainly affected by a concussion, there’s a timeline to think about. The return-to-play development for NHL gamers coping with head accidents usually lasts not less than seven days. The league’s Concussion Analysis and Administration Protocol outlines a six-step analysis course of through which train, depth and get in touch with are steadily elevated in 24-hour increments to gauge whether or not post-concussion signs are nonetheless current.
Staff physicians are answerable for figuring out when a participant has cleared protocol and returned to his neurological baseline, which clears the best way for a return to reside sport motion.
In Stolarz’s absence, Joseph Woll has earned two wins however can be struggling to place his stamp on the collection. By means of two-and-a-half video games, Woll has allowed 11 targets and has an .869 save proportion. Whereas he has made some well timed saves, notably in Sport 2, there was a noticeable drop off in Woll’s play with the puck in comparison with Stolarz.
“(The Panthers) are coming laborious. We all know that,” Berube mentioned of Woll’s puck play on Saturday. “(Woll) goes to have to maneuver it fast, decide fast and transfer it. That’s the underside line.”
The Athletic’s Chris Johnston contributed to this report.
(Picture: Ethan Miller / Getty Photos)
