What Happened
Anthony Stolarz made his return to the Toronto net on Wednesday night, leading the Maple Leafs to a 2-1 victory over the visiting New York Islanders. It was Toronto's first win of the new season, coming one night after a loss to Montreal. Colton Sissons opened the scoring with his first goal as a Maple Leaf, and Easton Cowan added a power-play goal. Stolarz held the lead as the Islanders pushed back, making several key stops late.
Key Details
- Stolarz had been out nearly 11 months after a groin injury ended his previous outing early.
- The 32-year-old goaltender was playing in the second half of a season-opening back-to-back.
- Colton Sissons scored his first goal as a Maple Leaf.
- Easton Cowan scored on the power play to make it 2-0.
- Stolarz denied Anthony Duclair on a third-period chance, a save he called a half scorpion.
- Toronto lost its season opener to Montreal on Tuesday night.
What It Means
Stolarz's return gives Toronto a proven option in goal after his previous season was cut short by the groin injury. His performance in the win suggests he can handle a starter's workload, which matters for a Maple Leafs group that opened the year with uneven play in front of him. The team's first victory also came with contributions from newcomers and younger forwards.
What's Next
Toronto continues its early-season schedule after splitting the opening back-to-back, with Stolarz's workload and recovery to be monitored following his return from the groin injury.