Joseph Woll's confidence crucial for Maple Leafs heading into pivotal Game 5
'Confidence is in doing the same things over and over. As a team, I think we have that confidence and consistency.'
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Joseph Woll felt like he was part of a goaltending clinic on Tuesday.
The group work before the Maple Leafs practised at the Ford Performance Centre brought a smile to Woll’s face because it included Anthony Stolarz.
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“It’s a good little morale boost,” Woll said. “It’s great. Looks like he felt great out there. You want to see your full team healthy.”
Stolarz, who has been idle since he was hurt in Game 1 against the Florida Panthers, isn’t ready to return to game action yet. Coach Craig Berube doesn’t have a date in mind for Stolarz’s first game back, but is encouraged by the veteran’s progression this week.
“He’s on the ice a little bit, so he’s doing much better,” Berube said.
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The Leafs have not been specific about the nature of Stolarz’s injury, though there is suspicion it’s a concussion. Stolarz was knocked in the head by Panthers forward Sam Bennett in the series opener last week after taking a Sam Reinhart shot off the mask earlier in the game.
Stolarz, who was on the ice with Woll, Matt Murray and Dennis Hildeby, took shots from goalie coach Curtis Sanford and was getting some side-to-side movement in his crease. Stolarz’s participation lasted approximately 30 minutes before he departed prior to the start of main practice.
“Over the course of the course of the season, I’ve been able to lean on him and learn,” Woll said in reference to Stolarz’s influence. “It’s important to balance yourself out. He has been helpful in that way.”
Oliver Ekman-Larsson missed practice because he was sick, Berube said, yet there was no indication that the defenceman would not play in Game 5 on Wednesday at Scotiabank Arena.
With the best-of-seven second-round series tied 2-2 — and with Leafs Nation holding its collective breath following two straight Toronto losses — Woll has little choice but to at least replicate his performance in Game 4, when he made 35 saves and received no goal support from his teammates in a 2-0 loss.
If Panthers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky continues to crank up his overall performance,
Woll is going to have to equal it. On paper, Woll versus Bobrovsky is a mismatch. Including 11 playoff games, Woll has played in 89 games in the National Hockey League. Bobrovsky has played in 754 regular-season games and 103 in the playoffs.
Woll has confidence in himself and he’s sticking to the season-long script.
“Throughout the season, it’s trying to take each game one at a time and then treat each game the same,” Woll said. “And I think that’s where consistency comes from. Confidence is in doing the same things over and over. As a team, I think we have that confidence and consistency.
“Nerves are part of it. That’s part of doing anything worth doing, is a little bit of fear. That’s healthy and that’s good, but same time, we’re ready to go.”
One result of winning the Atlantic Division for the Leafs is having the opportunity to regain control of the series on home ice in Game 5. Yes, the Leafs would have home ice again if the series requires a Game 7, but no one in the dressing room is peering beyond Wednesday.
“Playing in front of our crowd is amazing,” Woll said. “The two games that I played at home in this series were awesome. We have special fans, and to be able to play in front of them and have them cheer us on … I’m excited to play for them tomorrow.”
Woll deserves credit for his ability to enter this series on a moment’s notice and improve each night out. When Stolarz left midway through the second period of Game 1 on May 5, it didn’t matter that Woll had not played since the regular-season finale on April 17.
“I was prepared,” Woll said. “I was making sure I was doing things to keep myself in game shape, even though you’re not playing the game. I’m just doing what I know.”
Woll has been made aware of the unique bit of support he is getting from many who live and die with each save he makes, each goal the Leafs score, each Toronto win or loss that is recorded on any given night.
Matthew Knies recently showed him a video of Leafs fans inserting Woll’s name into their renditions of the Oasis song Wonderwall.
“Has a nice little ring to it,” Woll said with a smile.
So would, Leafs Nation figures, a Toronto victory in Game 5.
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