The performance Joseph Woll delivers over the next week will likely shape how Toronto Maple Leafs fans view him for the foreseeable future.
These moments are often what define an athlete`s legacy.
Interestingly, we saw this play out just one year ago with the very same netminder.
Woll was exceptional in the two-plus games he played against the Boston Bruins, stepping in for a struggling Ilya Samsonov. Woll was instrumental in leading Toronto to back-to-back 2-1 victories, posting an impressive .964 save percentage to ward off elimination in that series.
He was simply outstanding.
However, he subsequently suffered an injury, couldn`t dress for Game 7 (which Samsonov lost), and the perception of being “injury prone” lingered, following Woll right into training camp.
This week offers Woll a fresh opportunity to redefine that narrative.
While starter Anthony Stolarz was strong in Round 1, and his injury was arguably the result of a controversial, unpenalized play by Sam Bennett that potentially altered the series, thinking Stolarz will return soon is unrealistic. According to coach Craig Berube, Stolarz is recovering from a head injury but hasn`t even skated yet.
This is now Woll’s crease.
And, given the solid offensive support and commitment to shot blocking from his teammates, the 26-year-old needs to provide better goaltending than he did in Game 3.
Veteran forward Max Pacioretty, empathizing with a relatively unproven goalie thrust into such a high-pressure role, remarked: “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 continued: “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.”
To his credit, Woll (with a 2-1 record and .869 save percentage) has slightly edged out future Hall of Famer Sergei Bobrovsky (1-2, .840) through the first three games.
Yet, in a tightly contested series where all games have been decided by a single goal, a soft goal like the one Woll allowed to fourth-liner Jonah Gadjovich on Friday night in Sunrise can easily swing the outcome.
Woll, showing a pragmatic approach, commented on moving past such moments: “You just shake it off. Bounces go both ways, and that`s hockey. So, just reset.” He added, “Did the same thing as I always do and just came out on the wrong side.” He clearly has no time for dwelling on mistakes during this crucial period.
The fortunate aspect for Woll and the Maple Leafs is that Bobrovsky has not performed at his peak Stanley Cup level (.906). Bobrovsky`s current .875 save percentage in these playoffs marks his lowest in any of his 11 post-season appearances with at least one start.
This scenario presents Woll with a significant opportunity to be the standout goaltender over the next two, three, or four games and help propel Toronto to its first conference final in 23 years.
The Panthers, as expected, are making every effort to disrupt Woll, employing tactics similar to those used against the previous goalie.
They are aggressively attacking the net front, looking for screens, bumps, and tips. The presence of prospects like Dennis Hildeby or veteran Matt Murray on the bench might also serve as additional motivation for Woll.
Woll downplayed the impact of the Panthers` tactics: “I`m not noticing it too much. It`s expected in playoffs. Teams on both sides, you drive the net hard, and that`s part of the game.”
