Maple Leafs’ Woll parks frustration in recovery from latest injury

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Published Oct 18, 2024  •  3 minute read

Maple Leafs goaltender Joseph Woll makes a save during training camp at the Ford Performance Centre in Toronto, Sept. 21, 2023. Photo by Ernest Doroszuk / Files /Toronto Sun

Joseph Woll has been here before.

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Too many times to count, almost, for the Maple Leafs goaltender.

In the wake of his latest injury, the 26-year-old continues to become an expert in parking his exasperation as he works his way back into the lineup.

Woll practised fully on Friday at the Ford Performance Centre, his first such workout since lower-body tightness forced him to the sideline on Oct. 8, on the eve of the Leafs’ regular-season opener.

Woll is getting close to being ready for game action but is not ready yet and will watch again on Saturday night as Anthony Stolarz tends the Leafs net against the New York Rangers at Scotiabank Arena. When Woll is good to play again remains a day-to-day process.

“Any time you get injured, whether it’s a big injury or a small injury, I think there is that kind of initial emotion that’s a little bit of frustration, little bit of disappointment, all those things,” Woll said on Friday. “And that’s natural. I think that’s pretty human.

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“You let that come for a bit, and then you focus on what you can control and what you can do. So since then, I’ve just been focused on doing everything I can possibly do to get back 100% as soon as I can and help this team.”

Based on the lines at practice, veteran Max Pacioretty will be a healthy scratch for the second game in a row. From the win against the Los Angeles Kings on Wednesday, Leafs coach Craig Berube didn’t make any changes within his forward group as the Leafs prepared to face the Rangers.

Among defencemen, look for Timothy Liljegren to again take a seat in the press box.

Liljegren, who may or may not be traded in the coming weeks, wasn’t good in his season debut against the Kings and was back on a pairing with Philippe Myers on Friday. Conor Timmins, scratched on Wednesday so Liljegren could get a look, returned to a blue-line partnership with Simon Benoit.

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Specifically, it was groin tightness, Woll said, that put him on the shelf this time. It followed a long list of injuries for the Missouri native, including a sprained back against the Boston Bruins in the playoffs last spring as well as a high ankle sprain suffered last December in a game in Ottawa against the Senators.

Despite the history of hurting, the Leafs haven’t lost belief in Woll, signing him in the offseason to a three-year extension, with an average annual value of $3.66 million US, that kicks in for 2025-26.

Woll wasn’t interested in saying when he suffered his latest health setback. During practice on Oct. 3, he appeared to be in discomfort after making a save, but then played two nights later in the Leafs’ preseason finale against the Detroit Red Wings and practised as the Leafs got set for their first game, in Montreal against the Canadiens.

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When it was decided Woll couldn’t start the season, he was placed on injured reserve and Dennis Hildeby was summoned from the Toronto Marlies on an emergency basis.

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“There’s always lessons you take from everything in life,” Woll said. “From my end, I’m happy and confident in the work that I put in and what I do, my habits and details. From that standpoint, I’ve been proud of what I’ve been doing.”

Because of the play of Stolarz, and for one game, of Hildeby, the Leafs have not had a bumpy ride in net since Woll’s most-recent injury.

Stolarz has been excellent, and acknowledged he has a bit of swagger right now.

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“Feeling pretty good,” Stolarz said. “Just trying to stay level-headed. It’s about giving a consistent effort day in and day out.

“(Leafs goalie coach) Curtis (Sanford) and I have been doing a good job of staying on top of some things. I always think there’s a couple things I can continue to work on, and we’ve been hammering away at that on the ice here … little areas, crease plays around the net, tracking pucks.”

Stolarz has a .927 save percentage in four career games against the Rangers, who are expected to have star goalie Igor Shesterkin in net.

“You know you’re going to have to be ready,” Stolarz said. “He’s probably one of the best, if not the best, goalie in the league.

“You just go out there, focus on one shot at a time and try to stay in the moment.

“We’re going to want to get pucks to the net, get as much traffic as we can and make his life difficult.”

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