Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube says starting goaltender Anthony Stolarz hasn’t been ruled out for Game 2 of Toronto’s second-round playoff series with Florida.
The netminder left Monday’s opener after receiving an elbow to the head from Panthers centre Sam Bennett in the second period.
Stolarz, who also took a shot off the mask early in Game 1, was knocked to the ice by the blow from Florida’s bruising forward but stayed in the action for a few minutes. He eventually departed after vomiting on Toronto’s bench during a break in play.
Sam Bennett says he considers his contact with Anthony Stolarz a “bump” that didn’t feature much force. <br><br>”There’s no intent. Stolie is a great friend of mine, but when I hear that he went to the hospital of course I feel bad.”
Sam Bennett is not expected to face any supplemental discipline for his hit on Anthony Stolarz during last night’s game, per sources.
Berube confirmed the 31-year-old was evaluated in hospital Monday night, but added he was at the team’s practice facility Tuesday morning. The coach said he didn’t know if his No. 1 crease option had suffered a concussion.
No stranger to being parachuted into a playoff series, Leafs backup Joseph Woll stopped 17-of-20 shots in relief as Toronto held on for a 5-4 victory over the Panthers to grab a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven matchup.
Game 2 goes Wednesday at Scotiabank Arena at 7 p.m. ET.
