No doubt, the NHL's 82-game season is taxing on everybody, and the Toronto Maple Leafs and their goalies are no different.
Currently, the Toronto Maple Leafs rank as the 30th oldest team in the league, so this extended break due to the Four Nations tournament couldn't have come at a better time, with veterans such as John Tavares (34), Oliver Ekman-Larsson (33), Max Pacioretty (36), and Chris Tanev (35) who could use the break from eating the second-most pucks in the league at the break.
Sure, the break is nice for players, but for Leaf goalies Joseph Woll and Anthony Stolarz, the break is vital for them, as they have been the backbone of this team since the season started.
At the break, Woll sports a .909 save percentage, and Stolarz .929, albeit only starting 18 games, the tandem leads the league in save percentage (.919) and is second in goals against (2.36). According to MoneyPuck.com, the Leafs rank 7th in expected goals at 5 on 5, and a large part of that has to do with head coach Craig Berube's defensive-oriented system. Unlike seasons in the past, it seems like if the Leafs don't get a stellar performance from Woll or Stolarz, they have a hard time winning games.
This is ironic because the question mark surrounding this team heading into this season wasn't the team's ability to score goals, as they were 2nd in goals for last season; it was their goaltending and their ability to stay healthy.
Staying Healthy has been a Challenge for Leaf goalies Joseph Woll and Anthony Stolarz
The critics weren't wrong, as Woll started the season with a lower-body injury. Then Stolarz missed 24 games due to a knee injury he suffered in mid-December before returning to Toronto's second-last game before the break in Seattle, where he picked up right where he left off, allowing one goal on 27 shots with a .963 save percentage.
Stolarzs' absence forced Woll to take on a workload he hasn't experienced yet in his four-year career. At the halfway mark, Woll has started 30 games, five more than any other full season.
When one of these two stellar netminders has taken the crease for the Leafs this season, it has been superb goaltending; the question is, is it attainable? Again, it depends on how healthy they can stay and how the group in front of them defends the crease.
According to MoneyPuck.com, the Leafs have allowed the 18th most amount of low-danger shots against which is due to how Berube has his new squad playing. Berube's insistence on a more defensive style of play has put more pressure on his two netminders to win games, as the Leafs rank 12th in goals for, which isn't bad.
Still, considering they were 2nd last year, it isn't what we're used to seeing, and it could prove more concerning if this trend continues to spiral once the break ends on the 22nd.
Let's also keep in mind that Auston Matthews has only played in 45 of the Leafs' 57 games this season due to mysterious injuries, one of which included him going overseas to Germany to see a specialist for whatever injury he had. Not to mention, Matthews doesn't have the scoring touch he's had since last year and in years prior, which is a shame since William Nylander is second only behind Leon Draisaitl in goals with 33 at the break if Matthews could find his touch this team could really come together.
The break isn't just important for the Leaf players but also for the two backbones of this team. The play of Woll and Stolarz has been the reason why this Leafs team has a solid standing in the Atlantic division, and this break could serve the two backbones of this team well, as well as the players that guard the crease for them.
If they can use this break to heal and recover while picking up where they left off, supported by some more scoring, this Leafs team could look like the team to beat in the east.