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The Toronto Maple Leafs are off to a red-hot start, and it looks like they're poised to finally make some noise in the playoffs. They're 3-1-0 and their lone loss was a one-goal defeat in which they were held scoreless by the Montreal Canadiens. Other than that, they've been excellent and are in third place in the Atlantic Division.
The credit defensively, according to an NHL analyst, goes to Anthony Stolarz.
Jospeh Woll has missed time with a lower-body injury and Stolarz was pressed into action in net. He's been excellent so far and TSN analyst Frankie Corrado beleives he is the reason for Toronto's hot start.
He said:
"If you're putting it between the goaltending, the defense, or the coaching, the goaltending has the opportunity to have the most immediate impact on how the game can be won. Anthony Stolarz has gotten the net three times now and has only let in five goals."
Corrado believes Stolarz wasn't expecting to play much but has stepped up for Woll and has been dependable:
"He can be trusted. If you compare it to the defense or the coaches, the goaltending had the chance to have the most immediate impact, and Anthony Stolarz has done that for the Maple Leafs."
So far, the Leafs have beaten the New Jersey Devils 4-2, the Pittsburgh Penguins by the same score, and the Los Angeles Kings by a score of 6-2. Since that opening loss to the Montreal Canadiens, their goal-scoring as well as their overall goalkeeping has been great.
NHL analyst praises Maple Leafs' goal prevention
Anthony Stolarz isn't the only reason Toronto has been able to stop the opposition from scoring. Defensemen play a big role in that, too, and Frankie Corrado believes the new-look Toronto Maple Leafs defense has been good.
He praised Chris Tanev, the big signing in the offseason, as a great partner for Morgan Rielly:
"A lot of ease when he’s on the ice, either with or without the puck. He breaks the puck out clean, he’s really good at defending against the other team’s best players. Chris Tanev has been everything the Leafs could have hoped for. Yes, it’s early in the season, and he will have to stay healthy, but he has looked good."
So far, it's all been mostly smooth-sailing for both Tanev and Stolarz, but they need to keep up the good performances if the Leafs are to contend in the long run.
