The Toronto Maple Leafs took a 2-0 lead in their playoff series against the Ottawa Senators after a tight 3-2 win in overtime on Tuesday night. While Ottawa had more hits in the game—44 compared to Toronto’s 25—it was a surprising hit by Leafs goalie Anthony Stolarz that grabbed the most attention.
A Goalie with Grit: Stolarz Levels Greig
In the first period of the game, Senators forward Ridly Greig was trying to create trouble in front of the Maple Leafs’ net. That’s when Stolarz, known for his strong presence, delivered a huge bodycheck on Greig. It was an unusual moment because it’s not often you see a goalie getting that physical.
“That’s playoff hockey,” said a smiling Stolarz after the game.
The Senators have been trying to block Stolarz’s view and make him uncomfortable in goal, but so far, the 6-foot-6, 243-pound goalie isn’t budging. Stolarz even used his goalie stick to tap Greig a couple of times before hitting him hard enough to knock him down.
Penalties on Both Sides
The hit led to penalties for both players. Stolarz was given an interference penalty for stepping out of the crease to hit Greig, while Greig was called for roughing. Despite the physical clash, Stolarz didn’t seem too worried.
When asked if it was one of the first penalties of his career, he laughed and replied, “No, I’ve taken quite a few penalties in my day.”
A Bit of Payback?
The hard hit may have been payback for something that happened in the previous game, when Greig slid feet-first into Stolarz. But the goalie insisted he wasn’t thinking about that in the moment.
“I just got caught up in the heat of battle,” he explained. “I didn’t even know who it was.”
Still, fans and teammates loved seeing that kind of fire from their goalie. Leafs forward Mitch Marner, who played with Stolarz in junior hockey, wasn’t surprised by the move.
“I’ve known ‘Stolie’ for a long time, and I’ve seen that in junior, too,” Marner said. “He’s a big man. He sticks up for himself. It’s good for him.”
Strong in the Net Too
While Stolarz is showing he’s not afraid to get physical, he’s also doing what matters most—stopping the puck. So far in the series, he has allowed only four goals on 61 shots, helping his team stay in control.
Now, as the series moves to Ottawa, the Maple Leafs are in a strong position with a 2-0 lead in this best-of-seven matchup.
Stolarz’s performance—both in net and on the ice—shows that he’s a tough competitor. The Senators may be trying to shake him up, but so far, nothing has worked.
