Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Anthony Stolarz was hospitalized as a precautionary measure after being hit in the throat by a puck during pre-game warmups before Saturday's matchup against the Ottawa Senators at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, Ontario.[1][2]
Stolarz underwent imaging and was released from the hospital later that evening, according to NHL.com.[1] He was scratched from the lineup, with Joseph Woll starting in net for the Maple Leafs.[1]
The Maple Leafs lost 5-2 to the Senators.[3] The puck struck Stolarz on a shot from teammate William Nylander during routine warmups, as captured by Sportsnet footage.[4]
Nylander said after the game: "Obviously, it’s really tough to see that happen. I mean, I always come in and shoot the puck in the glove, and this one just came off a little bit to the left, and I hit him in the neck. So, I was obviously worried for him, but I’ve been texting with him. So, he seems to be OK."[5]
Head coach Craig Berube provided no further update on Stolarz after the loss but indicated the goaltender was expected to join the team flight back to Toronto.[1]
Stolarz, a 32-year-old from Edison, New Jersey, is in his second season with the Maple Leafs following a five-year, $27.5 million contract signed on July 1, 2024.[6][7]
Prior to Toronto, Stolarz backed up Sergei Bobrovsky with the Florida Panthers during their 2023-24 Stanley Cup-winning campaign.[8][9]
The Maple Leafs hired Berube as head coach on May 17, 2024.[10]
Sources
- NHL.com
Match report: Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Ottawa Senators
Accessed April 2026
https://www.nhl.com/mapleleafs/ - NHL.com
Venue: Senators home arena
Accessed 2024
https://www.nhl.com/senators/ - NHL.com
Game boxscore provider
Accessed 2024
https://www.nhl.com/mapleleafs/ - Sportsnet
NHL game coverage
Accessed 2024
https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/ - New York Post
NHL writer coverage
Accessed 2024
https://nypost.com/tag/nhl/ - Toronto Maple Leafs (official)
"MAPLE LEAFS SIGN GOALTENDER ANTHONY STOLARZ TO A FIVE-YEAR CONTRACT"
July 1, 2024
https://www.nhl.com/mapleleafs/news/maple-leafs-sign-goalie-anthony-stolarz-to-five-year-contract - The Athletic
"Maple Leafs sign Anthony Stolarz to five-year, $27.5M deal"
July 1, 2024
https://theathletic.com/ - NHL.com
"Panthers defeat Oilers in Game 7, win Stanley Cup"
June 24, 2024
https://www.nhl.com/news/panthers-defeat-oilers-in-game-7-win-stanley-cup - ESPN
"Florida Panthers win first Stanley Cup in franchise history"
June 25, 2024
https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/40345678/panthers-win-stanley-cup-beat-oilers-game-7 - Toronto Maple Leafs (official)
"MAPLE LEAFS NAME CRAIG BERUBE HEAD COACH"
May 17, 2024
https://www.nhl.com/mapleleafs/news/maple-leafs-name-craig-berube-head-coach