Stolarz Stars in Game 1, Leading Leafs to Dominant 6-2 Win Over Senators

Anthony Stolarz stepped up big time in Game 1 of the Battle of Ontario, backstopping the Toronto Maple Leafs to a commanding 6-2 victory over the Ottawa Senators. The 31-year-old goaltender made 31 saves on 33 shots, securing his first-ever NHL playoff win in what was a physical and intense contest.

Though Stolarz would like to have the first goal back — a puck that hopped over his stick before being buried by Drake Batherson — he remained focused and steady throughout. "It kind of hops over your stick, right? That’s part of being a goalie, it’s short-term memory, and you gotta worry about that next shot," Stolarz said after the win, as Toronto took a 1-0 series lead.

Despite the tough physical play, Stolarz praised his team for their defensive commitment, noting their role in limiting Ottawa’s chances. "Guys did a really good job for me, keeping them to the outside, and when my number was called to make a big save, I just tried my best to do that. Our commitment to playing a 200-foot game, blocking shots, and having good sticks in lanes, I think, was key to our success tonight," he added.

The game was filled with moments where Stolarz had to battle through physicality, including a late collision with Ottawa’s Ridly Greig. “Yeah, I’m fine. He just kind of came in and caught me in a little awkward spot," said Stolarz, who was able to shake off the hit and finish the game.

He also made crucial saves at key moments, including a breakaway stop on Brady Tkachuk early in the second period and several timely stops in the second frame, especially after a five-on-three penalty kill. "He had to make some huge saves in the second period after we had the five-on-three. He made big saves when it became five-on-five. I thought he was solid, very solid tonight," said a pleased head coach.

At the other end, Linus Ullmark had a difficult night. The Vezina Trophy winner allowed two goals on Toronto's first four shots and finished the game with a .750 save percentage, well below his regular-season mark of .910. After the loss, Ullmark remained optimistic: “It's just one game. It doesn’t matter how you play one game and lose it. You can lose 1-0, and it’s still a loss. It’s just having the mind of a goldfish and going out there and playing game two with a little bit of a chip on your shoulder.”

While Ullmark is right that there are still more games in this series, Ottawa will need to tighten up defensively to avoid another blowout. If the Maple Leafs continue firing on all cylinders, this could be a short first-round series for both teams. However, Stolarz certainly holds the upper hand in goaltending after Game 1, though don’t count out the experienced Ullmark just yet.

“I like our goaltending. I like our goalie a lot,” said Senators head coach Travis Green. “He's a good goalie. He's won a Vezina. He's pretty good. There’s no elephant in our room.”