FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — The perception of Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Joseph Woll among fans this summer will largely depend on his performance in the upcoming week of playoff hockey.
These moments are pivotal in shaping an athlete`s legacy.
We witnessed this exactly one year ago with Woll himself.
Woll was exceptional in the games he played against the Boston Bruins, stepping in for an inconsistent Ilya Samsonov. He backstopped Toronto to consecutive 2-1 victories and maintained an impressive .964 save percentage, helping the team avoid elimination in that series.
He was spectacular.
However, he subsequently suffered an injury, couldn`t participate in Game 7, Samsonov lost, and the label of being `injury prone` followed Woll right into training camp.
This week offers Woll a significant opportunity to redefine his reputation.
While starting goalie Anthony Stolarz was strong in the first round and was injured by a controversial play involving Sam Bennett, it appears unlikely Stolarz will return to face the Florida Panthers this season, despite coach Craig Berube noting his recovery progress (he hasn`t skated yet).
The net now belongs to Woll.
With solid offensive support and his teammates committed to blocking shots in front of him, the 26-year-old needs to provide better goaltending than he did in Game 3.
Veteran Max Pacioretty commented on Woll`s situation, showing empathy for a young goalie thrust into a challenging role: “It’s tough. It’s very tough. But he’s done a really good job of handling it, and he’s made a lot of really key saves for us. So, really impressed with Joe.” Pacioretty added, “It’s a very difficult situation to be in, but he’s handled it extremely well. And I’ve made a point of talking about how hard he works, and I think that’s a big reason why he’s having success.”
Remarkably, Woll has slightly outplayed veteran Sergei Bobrovsky through the initial three games. Woll holds a 2-1 record with an .869 save percentage, compared to Bobrovsky`s 1-2 record and .840 save percentage.
But in a series where all three contests have been decided by a single goal, a weak goal allowed, like the one Woll surrendered to fourth-liner Jonah Gadjovich in Game 3, can be the difference-maker.
Taking a pragmatic approach, Woll stated his mindset: “You just shake it off. Bounces go both ways, and that’s hockey. So, just reset.” He explained, “Did the same thing as I always do and just came out on the wrong side,” indicating his focus on the process rather than dwelling on the outcome.
The encouraging news for both Woll and the Maple Leafs is that Bobrovsky is not performing at his usual high playoff standard. His .875 save percentage in these playoffs is his lowest in any of the 11 post-seasons where he has made at least one start.
This presents an opportunity for Woll to be the superior goaltender in the upcoming games and potentially propel Toronto to its first conference final appearance in 23 years.
Naturally, the Panthers are working to make things difficult for Woll, employing similar tactics used against the previous goalie. They are aggressively driving towards the net to create screens, collisions, and deflections. The presence of backup options like prospect Dennis Hildeby or Matt Murray on the bench might also serve as added motivation.
Woll, however, downplayed the physical challenge: “I’m not noticing it too much.” He views it as standard playoff intensity: “It’s expected in playoffs. Teams on both sides, you drive the net hard, and that’s part of the game.”
Tristan Blackwood