In a tense twist ahead of Friday night’s do-or-die Game 6 showdown in Florida, Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube confirmed that backup goaltender Anthony Stolarz is unlikely to travel with the team.
The news came during a post-practice media scrum Thursday, when Berube stated, “It’s not looking like Stolarz will make the trip. We’ll have to prepare accordingly.” That one sentence sent ripples through Leafs Nation.
With Toronto trailing the series 3-2 against the red-hot Florida Panthers, every move and every lineup decision is now under a microscope. Stolarz hasn’t started a game this series, but his presence on the bench has been a quiet security blanket — a veteran with playoff experience, ready if disaster struck.
Now? The Leafs are all in with starter Joseph Woll, whose recent heroics in Game 5 sparked a surge of hope. But behind Woll, questions swirl. If Stolarz can’t go, will Toronto roll with rookie Dennis Hildeby as backup? That would be an enormous gamble in the most high-pressure game of the year.
This is the Leafs’ season on the line.
Lose Friday night in Sunrise and the dreams of 2024-25 are over. Win — and it’s back to Toronto for Game 7 in front of what would be a thunderous Scotiabank Arena crowd.
Toronto has shown flashes of brilliance this series — especially when their backs are against the wall. But the Panthers, led by Matthew Tkachuk and Sergei Bobrovsky, won’t be giving them any breathing room.
Expect the Leafs to come out flying, leaning heavily on their top guns — Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, and William Nylander — to lead the charge. And with the goalie situation in flux, Joseph Woll will need to channel every ounce of composure and confidence he showed in Game 5.
One thing is certain:
Friday night in Florida won’t just be another playoff game — it’ll be a battle for survival.
Stay locked in. We’ll be covering every twist, every save, and every goal as it happens