Trouble keeps mounting for the Maple Leafs as Joseph Woll was notably absent from Tuesday’s practice, adding another name to the team’s growing injury list.
It’s been a brutal year for Toronto on the health front.
The team just lost Mitch Marner at the worst possible time, with the 4 Nations Face-Off tournament right around the corner. Now Woll’s absence raises fresh concerns about the Leafs’ goaltending situation ahead of their matchup with the Calgary Flames.
No one’s quite sure what’s going on with Woll. He might be dealing with an injury, or maybe Anthony Stolarz is ready to return. But it’s definitely weird not seeing Woll at least in the visitor’s net during practice – that’s usually standard procedure.
Woll’s been carrying a heavy load this season while Stolarz was out. He’s put up some pretty solid numbers:
- 18 wins and 10 losses
- 2.66 goals against average
- .909 save percentage
Sure, he’s had some rough patches, but he’s also made some spectacular saves when the team needed them most.
The Leafs’ medical room is starting to look more crowded than their locker room. It’s actually kind of amazing that only three players – William Nylander, Morgan Rielly, and Steven Lorentz – haven’t missed any games this season.
Here’s the thing that’s really worrying: Toronto’s not exactly a young team anymore. They’ve got one of the older rosters in the NHL, and we all know recovery gets tougher with age.
The timing couldn’t be worse with the playoffs approaching. Postseason hockey is a whole different animal – more physical, more intense, more demanding.
A lot rides on having solid goaltending, and both Woll and Stolarz have already missed significant time this year. That’s not exactly confidence-inspiring heading into the stretch run.
The Leafs are probably crossing their fingers that whatever’s keeping Woll off the ice isn’t serious. Their playoff hopes might depend on it.
