Woll's Resilient Performance Against Montreal Shows Why Leafs Have A Top Netminding Duo

For the Toronto Maple Leafs to be where they are in the NHL standings – atop the Atlantic Division, with more points in the Eastern Conference than all but the Washington Capitals – a lot of their players have had to step up. Star right wingers Mitch Marner and William Nylander, defensemen Chris Tanev and Oliver Ekman-Larsson, and goalie Anthony Stolarz have all had their moments in the sun for Toronto this season, but one young Maple Leafs player, in particular, has contributed about as much as anyone. And we’re talking about netminder Joseph Woll, who once again showed his value Saturday night in the Leafs’ come-from-behind 7-3 win over the Montreal Canadiens.

Granted, Woll wasn’t at his best in the first period of Saturday’s game, when he surrendered three goals on 13 Canadiens shots. By the time the first intermission arrived, the Leafs and Woll looked like they’d be in for a long night. But after that, something happened that was very encouraging for the Buds: Woll turned aside the Habs’ 22 shots over the next two periods, and Toronto’s offense scored seven unanswered goals to come away with an electric win. Woll shut the door on Montreal when they pushed to increase the lead, and goal-by-goal, the Leafs chipped away to win their second straight game.

In sum, Woll did what all elite goaltenders do – give their teams a shot at coming away with a win. It certainly wasn’t an ideal showing, and Woll’s individual numbers this season – including a .907 save percentage and 2.68 goals-against average – aren’t quite as good as they were earlier in the year. But, Saturday’s win – his seventh win out of the nine games he has started in since Christmas – showed the hockey world that Woll is very good at the bend-don’t-break approach we’ve seen from the best goalies in the world.

And even better – Woll is currently earning just $766,667 this season, making him one of the best bargains in the NHL. Woll’s contract extension that raises his salary to $3.66 million doesn’t kick in until the 2025-26 campaign, but even then, that number is a very good one for the Leafs. And at that point, Woll’s increased amount of money, along with Stolarz’s $2.5 million salary, means Toronto will be spending only $6.16 million for their goaltending next year.

That’s a much better amount than what many teams will be paying to just one of their goalies, let alone a goaltending duo. In Manhattan, the New York Rangers will be paying veteran Igor Shesterkin $11.5 million. In Boston, Jeremy Swayman and Joonas Korpisalo will be paid a combined $12.25 million. On Long Island, the New York Islanders will be paying Ilya Sorokin and Semyon Varlamov a combined $11 million. And in Florida, the Panthers will be giving Sergei Bobrovsky and Spencer Knight a combined $14.5 million. You can see why Leafs GM Brad Treliving has to be elated about his team’s goaltending situation.

There’s no question the jury is still out on Woll’s durability. Until he shows he can stay healthy for long periods, Woll is going to have his doubters. However, Woll has demonstrated that his ability to steal games isn’t just a situation in which he hasn’t been scouted by the rest of the league. This is a 26-year-old who is quietening his critics and thriving in the pressure-packed spotlight that comes with playing in Toronto.

In a few weeks, Stolarz will likely be back from injury, and Woll’s workload will be reduced to a degree. The days of a goalie being a 60-game workhorse are basically over, and Stolarz has been excellent himself in Toronto, so the Leafs will have an even better netminding picture than the one they have right now.

Related: Maple Leafs Potentially On Track For Playoff Battle With Senators Or Canadiens

That said, Woll’s hot streak should put to rest any anxieties Leafs fans may have regarding the team's goaltending. Woll is the real deal, and without him, Toronto could have fallen down the Atlantic ranks and been fighting for their playoff lives right now.

Woll certainly isn’t perfect, but with the Leafs’ dynamic offense, he doesn’t have to be. All he has to do is keep the Buds in the game long enough for Toronto to make their way back on the scoresheet. And thus far, that’s been a challenge Woll has excelled at.

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