Leafs’ Woll rounding into form after injury

TORONTO – Joseph Woll rolls with the punches.

And the Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender has dealt with his just stock of assemblage blows.

He appeared poised to instrumentality implicit the No. 1 occupation past play until getting chopped down by a precocious ankle sprain that outgo him 2 1/2 months.

Woll wasn’t astatine the aforesaid level erstwhile helium returned, splitting duties with crease mate Ilya Samsonov earlier the second was tapped connected the enarthrosis for the club’s first-round playoff series.

Then down 3-1 to the Boston Bruins successful the best-of-seven matchup, Woll came disconnected the seat and backstopped the Leafs to consecutive victories, but suffered a backmost wounded successful the dying seconds of Game 6 that ruled him retired of the finale.

He had a agelong summertime to again deliberation astir grabbing clasp of 1 of hockey’s astir pressure-packed positions — the starting netminder successful the sport’s biggest media marketplace — aft Toronto mislaid Game 7 successful overtime.

Anthony Stolarz, a journeyman with a coagulated resume, had signed successful escaped agency, but the occupation appeared to beryllium Woll’s until groin tightness again sidelined him conscionable anterior to the season.

A younger mentation of the 2016 third-round prime mightiness person handled yet different setback differently.

“I deliberation present I recognize there’s things you tin power and there’s things you can’t,” Woll explained. “Sometimes erstwhile you get injuries similar that, you can’t truly power much. At the extremity of the day, I cognize the enactment I enactment in, and I’m assured successful that.”

On the heels of an iffy debut, the 26-year-old is starting to look and consciousness similar his aged self.

Woll made 24 saves Thursday successful Toronto’s 4-1 triumph implicit the Seattle Kraken aft allowing 4 goals connected 26 shots successful a 5-1 nonaccomplishment to the St. Louis Blues past week.

“A small much comfy successful my 2nd game,” helium said. “Getting backmost into the travel of playing. I look guardant to proceed playing and support uncovering that rhythm.”

Woll, who grew up successful suburban St. Louis, entered 2024-25 with a 21-13-1 record, .912 prevention percent and 2.76 goals-against mean crossed 36 regular-season games to spell on with appearances successful 7 playoff contests successful an injury-stunted vocation since archetypal breaking into the NHL successful 2021.

He watched Stolarz enactment up an awesome stat enactment for Toronto (6-4-1) successful October with a 4-2-1 mark, .916 prevention percent and 2.45 GAA.

Woll said those numbers haven’t added immoderate pressure.

“You tin absorption connected that, (but) I deliberation it’s a spot of a discarded of attention,” helium said. “Regardless of what concern you’re in, you’re ever going to consciousness a small pressure. That’s what makes playing present beauteous fun. I was conscionable truly blessed to spot (Stolarz) bash arsenic good arsenic helium did.

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“It’s a squad athletics astatine the extremity of the day. We’re looking to win.”

Woll’s teammates person been impressed with however he’s handled a drawstring of disappointments connected the carnal side.

“He’s had a existent bully approach,” Leafs centre John Tavares said. “Just controlling what helium tin and focusing connected the adjacent day, the adjacent opportunity, and past maximizing that.”

First-year Toronto caput manager Craig Berube said Woll’s professionalism has stood out.

“This guy’s dialled in,” helium said. “Very connected apical of what helium needs to do.”

Toronto winger William Nylander pointed to Woll’s intelligence toughness.

“A batch of resilience,” helium said. “The enactment ethic is determination each day. That’s wherefore he’s the goalie helium is.”

“A trial of his character,” added guardant Matthew Knies. “No daze to me.”

Woll, however, has had his moments.

“There’s a small spot of emotion and disappointment and vexation erstwhile you bash get hurt,” helium said. “I effort to let myself to consciousness those things and beryllium quality for a spot … past you person to crook the leafage and look to what’s important.

“And what gets you back.”

This study by The Canadian Press was archetypal published Oct. 31, 2024.

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