TORONTO – Joseph Woll rolls with the punches.
And the Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender has dealt together with his fair proportion of physique blows.
He appeared poised to take over the No. 1 job final season till getting lower down by a excessive ankle sprain that price him 2 1/2 months.
Woll wasn’t on the identical degree when he returned, splitting duties with crease mate Ilya Samsonov earlier than the latter was tapped on the shoulder for the membership’s first-round playoff sequence.
Then down 3-1 to the Boston Bruins within the best-of-seven matchup, Woll got here off the bench and backstopped the Leafs to consecutive victories, however suffered a again harm within the dying seconds of Sport 6 that dominated him out of the finale.
He had a protracted summer season to once more take into consideration grabbing maintain of considered one of hockey’s most pressure-packed positions — the beginning netminder within the sport’s greatest media market — after Toronto misplaced Sport 7 in extra time.
Anthony Stolarz, a journeyman with a stable resume, had signed in free company, however the job gave the impression to be Woll’s till groin tightness once more sidelined him simply previous to the season.
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“I believe now I perceive there’s issues you may management and there’s issues you may’t,” Woll defined. “Generally while you get accidents like that, you may’t actually management a lot. On the finish of the day, I do know the work I put in, and I’m assured in that.”
On the heels of an iffy debut, the 26-year-old is beginning to feel and look like his outdated self.
Woll made 24 saves Thursday in Toronto’s 4-1 victory over the Seattle Kraken after permitting 4 targets on 26 photographs in a 5-1 loss to the St. Louis Blues final week.
“A bit extra snug in my second recreation,” he mentioned. “Getting again into the circulation of enjoying. I stay up for proceed enjoying and hold discovering that rhythm.”
Woll, who grew up in suburban St. Louis, entered 2024-25 with a 21-13-1 file, .912 save share and a couple of.76 goals-against common throughout 36 regular-season video games to go together with appearances in seven playoff contests in an injury-stunted profession since first breaking into the NHL in 2021.
He watched Stolarz put up a formidable stat line for Toronto (6-4-1) in October with a 4-2-1 mark, .916 save share and a couple of.45 GAA.
Woll mentioned these numbers haven’t added any strain.
“You’ll be able to give attention to that, (however) I believe it’s a little bit of a waste of consideration,” he mentioned. “No matter what scenario you’re in, you’re all the time going to really feel just a little strain. That’s what makes enjoying right here fairly enjoyable. I used to be simply actually joyful to see (Stolarz) do in addition to he did.
“It’s a group sport on the finish of the day. We’re seeking to win.”
Woll’s teammates have been impressed with how he’s dealt with a string of disappointments on the bodily aspect.
“He’s had an actual good strategy,” Leafs centre John Tavares mentioned. “Simply controlling what he can and specializing in the following day, the following alternative, after which maximizing that.”
First-year Toronto head coach Craig Berube mentioned Woll’s professionalism has stood out.
“This man’s dialled in,” he mentioned. “Very on prime of what he must do.”
Toronto winger William Nylander pointed to Woll’s psychological toughness.
“A number of resilience,” he mentioned. “The work ethic is there every single day. That’s why he’s the goalie he’s.”
“A take a look at of his character,” added ahead Matthew Knies. “No shock to me.”
Woll, nevertheless, has had his moments.
“There’s just a little little bit of emotion and disappointment and frustration while you do get damage,” he mentioned. “I attempt to permit myself to really feel these issues and be human for a bit … then it’s important to flip the web page and look to what’s vital.
“And what will get you again.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first revealed Oct. 31, 2024.
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