‘It’s Obviously Not Up To Par’: Anthony Stolarz Assesses His Play After Being Pulled By Maple Leafs In Loss To The Bruins

Anthony Stolarz Reflects on His Performance After Leafs' Loss to Bruins

Goaltender Anthony Stolarz admitted that his recent play has not met expectations as the Toronto Maple Leafs fell 5-3 to the Boston Bruins. He allowed four goals on 19 shots before being pulled in the second period — his first removal for performance reasons since joining the team at the start of the 2024-25 NHL season.

Stolarz, who signed a four-year, $15 million contract extension before this season, holds a 6-5-1 record with an .889 save percentage. Some of the Bruins' goals slipped past him in ways he later called preventable.

Self-Assessment After the Game

"Yeah, I mean, first and foremost, you know, I got to bear down and make a save. I mean, giving up the first two shots, you know, not a good way to start the game. So, you know, I like to compete. You know, guys came out after that and kind of responded well. And, you know, we put a lot of pressure on them. But, you know, when you give a team like that a couple of freebies, you know, it's going to be a tough hill to climb back from."

He admitted that conceding early cost the team momentum, though he praised his teammates for responding positively afterward.

Praise for Backup Goaltender Dennis Hildeby

"Yeah, it was awesome. I mean, I put him in a tough situation. But he came in handling it like a true pro and played well. Just trying to give him some confidence on the bench. And he talks back to me on the bench as well."

Hildeby stopped 19 of 20 shots in relief, earning recognition from Stolarz for his composure under pressure.

Author’s Summary

Stolarz openly acknowledged his struggles in Toronto’s 5-3 defeat to Boston, emphasizing accountability while commending Hildeby’s strong relief performance.

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The Hockey News The Hockey News — 2025-11-09

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