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Toronto Maple Leafs goalie Stolarz reveals details of meeting with refs

Adam Laskaris
Adam Laskaris
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Apr 25 2025, 2:06 pm
Toronto Maple Leafs goalie Stolarz reveals details of meeting with refs
Marc DesRosiers/Imagn Images

There have been many reasons why the Toronto Maple Leafs are holding a 3-0 series lead over the Ottawa Senators, but it’s harder to find many bigger than goaltender Anthony Stolarz.

In his first year as a playoff starter, Stolarz has risen to the occasion, stopping 75 of 81 shots through three games and allowing exactly two goals in each contest.

But it hasn’t been without a little bit of controversy as well.

In Game 2 of the series, a widely circulated clip of Stolarz and Senators forward Ridly Greig showed the Leafs goalie giving his opponent a good series of whacks.

Both Stolarz and Greig received penalties on the play, the former for interference and the latter for roughing. Many wondered why exactly the penalties were offsetting, with Greig seemingly taking much more of a beating than Stolarz on the play.

But it wasn’t the first incident between the two, with the rivals also jawing at each other in Game 1.

Following last night’s 3-2 Game 3 win, Stolarz shared that he met with the referees to ask for a bit more protection in the crease while on the road in Ottawa.

 

“Watch my back and I’ll behave,” Stolarz said. “They’re gonna come to the net, they’ve got some big guys, and it’s up to me to fight through traffic, find that puck, and smother it.”

Part of the reason for Toronto’s success in this series has been an ability to block a high percentage of Ottawa’s shots from getting through to Stolarz in the first place.

One of Toronto’s best at that has been Thursday night’s overtime hero, Simon Benoit, who has seven blocked shots through three games.

“It’s extremely exciting for him to be able to get that goal. I mean, what, two seconds left, he blocks two shots there? Guy’s just teeing off, just trying to take slapshots and get them to the net, and Benny’s sacrificing his body,” Stolarz added.

Stolarz and the Leafs return to action on Saturday night at the Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, where they look to close out the series in four games.

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