The Toronto Maple Leafs are on the verge of a major boost in net, as goaltender Anthony Stolarz made his highly anticipated return to the ice on Tuesday, participating in a full practice for the first time since undergoing knee surgery in December. Earlier this month, Stolarz skated for the first time since December 12, but Tuesday’s session marked his first full practice back. The 31-year-old goaltender, who was having an exceptional season before his injury, shared an update on his recovery, though he refrained from giving a specific timeline for his return. “Everything’s progressed well,” Stolarz noted. “It’s just about getting back into game shape.”
Stolarz had been sidelined due to a loose piece of cartilage in his knee, which led to a surgical procedure on December 18. Despite missing almost two months, he still leads the NHL in save percentage with a .927 mark, along with a 9–5-2 record, a 2.15 goals-against average, and a shutout before his injury. “It’s one of those things you can’t control,” Stolarz reflected on the cartilage issue. “It is what it is … now it’s up to me to get back to where I was before.” In his absence, the Leafs have relied on a combination of Joseph Woll, Dennis Hildeby, and Matt Murray in goal. Head coach Craig Berube acknowledged the significance of Stolarz’s return and expressed hope that he will be back in game action before the NHL breaks for the 4 Nations Face-Off tournament. “He’s been very positive about everything,” Berube said. “He’s in a good frame of mind and has done everything he needs to get back.” While Stolarz did not set a precise return date, his comeback seems imminent, with just five games remaining on the Leafs’ schedule before the 4 Nations tournament begins on February 8.
