Maple Leafs have lineup questions heading into Flames match
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Anthony Stolarz couldn’t help but marvel at the play of Joseph Woll.
Specifically, the two spectacular saves Woll made on the Edmonton Oilers’ Evan Bouchard and Corey Perry in the last seconds on Saturday, preserving a 4-3 Maple Leafs victory to kick off their four-game trip.
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Maple Leafs have lineup questions heading into Flames match Back to video
“Classic goalie game,” Stolarz told media in Calgary following practice at the Scotiabank Saddledome on Monday afternoon. “He kept us in it from the drop of the puck, made some big saves, and that’s what it’s all about.
“It’s all about going out there and competing and playing against the best in the world and it’s why he is one of the better goalies in the league. He is able to raise his game against other competition, high-end competition, and he is one of the reasons that we won that game.”
Question is, when will Stolarz get his next opportunity to potentially do the same for the Leafs? Could that come on Tuesday night against the Flames?
The status of Stolarz, who has not played since Dec. 12 and has spent the ensuing time recovering from a knee procedure, was one of the moving parts after the Leafs practised.
Leafs coach Craig Berube wouldn’t, or couldn’t, confirm whether star winger Mitch Marner or defenceman Oliver Ekman-Larsson would be in the lineup against the Flames after both missed practice for maintenance reasons.
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Whatever the specific reason for Marner getting a day of rest after the Leafs had a full day off on Sunday, keep those Leafs Nation fingers crossed that it’s nothing serious. Marner is one of four Leafs who has played in all 52 games and has been one of the best performers in the National Hockey League this season, sitting fourth in scoring with 70 points.
If Marner is out, Max Domi will get a look on the right side on the top line with captain Auston Matthews and Matthew Knies.
“I just wanted to see what it looked like in practice,” Berube said.
“He can make plays and the other guy can score. I thought the line looked good. They moved it around well.
“I like Max’s game right now. I think he is more aggressive, he is shooting more, attacking more, skating better. He has to continue to do that.”
Berube has been on that track for awhile regarding Domi, whose 19 points in 44 games can be only be categorized as disappointing.
As for Stolarz, if he doesn’t get the call against the Flames, you’d think he will start in Seattle on Thursday or in Vancouver on Saturday when the trip concludes.
Stolarz said he was still day to day, and added: “Physically I feel great. Couldn’t be happier with where I’m at in terms of that. The medical staff and training staff have done a phenomenal job of pushing me and getting me back up to speed, so I owe them a lot of credit.”
Berube made it sound like Stolarz won’t back up for a game before he gets a start.
“Coming off an injury like that, I don’t see a benefit with him backing up,” Berube said. “You never know, something happens, he goes in there cold, I don’t see any benefit in that.”
FUNNY NUMBERS
Give Morgan Rielly some credit for finding a lighter side on Monday.
Asked what he thinks about the plus-minus statistic, Rielly said: “Right now?”
After a laugh, Rielly added: “Mixed reviews.”
The veteran defenceman sits at minus-19 at even-strength, a mark that was better than just 10 NHL players through games on Sunday.
At five-on-five, it’s not as bad, as Rielly is minus-5. Still, that’s the worst mark among regular Leafs defencemen. At the other end, Jake McCabe is plus-13 at five-on-five, Chris Tanev is plus-12 and Ekman-Larsson is plus-11.
“I know (Rielly’s) plus-minus doesn’t show it, but a lot of those are with the goalie out,” Berube said. “To me, he is battling harder in his own zone.
“On the other side of things, he hasn’t produced enough points like he has in the past. We’re going to need that from him.”
With 23 points in 52 games, Rielly is on pace to finish with 36 points. That would be his lowest output since 2020-21, when he had 35 points — in 55 games.
In the previous two seasons that Rielly has played in all 82 games, he had 68 points in 2021-22 and 72 points in 2018-19.
“Anybody who looks at that stuff, whether it’s your plus-minus or your points, when you’re supposed to be a point producer, it wears on you for sure as a player,” Berube said. “You just have to be mentally tough and keep fighting through it, which he is.
“My conversations with him have been good because he is looking at everything. He is watching his shifts, he feels good, he is training, he is looking after himself. He is doing all the right things. He is going to come out of it.”
LOOSE LEAFS
Matthews on the booing of the U.S. national anthem at recent sporting events: “I’m not going to get into politics, so I’ll take the next question.” … Anticipating that perhaps Ekman-Larsson would miss time, the Leafs on Monday recalled defenceman Dakota Mermis from the Toronto Marlies. The 31-year-old Mermis has three assists in 12 games with the Marlies in 2024-25, but has not appeared in a game with the Leafs. After the Utah Hockey Club claimed Mermis off waivers from the Leafs in December, Toronto reclaimed him in January … The Leafs also sent centre Fraser Minten, who was a healthy scratch in Edmonton, back to the Marlies. In two stints with the Leafs this season, Minten has played in 15 games, scoring two goals and recording two assists. He has 10 points (five goals and five assists) in 16 games with the Marlies.
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