Maple Leafs coach Craig Berube said Joseph Woll would start Game 2 Wednesday night against the Florida Panthers and be backed up by Matt Murray.
‘Anthony is recovering,’ Berube said, according to ESPN’s Kristen Shilton. ‘He’s fine. He’s doing OK.’
Woll entered Game 1 after Stolarz left. He gave up three goals on 20 shots as the Maple Leafs held on to win 5-4.
Stolarz took a Sam Reinhart wrist shot off the mask in the first period. In the second period, Florida’s Sam Bennett caught him in the head during a collision in the crease and Stolarz dropped to the ice.
He remained in the game but got sick to his stomach by the bench during a television timeout and went to the dressing room. Multiple reports said he was taken to the hospital for further evaluation and later released.
Bennett, who has had some controversial plays in the past, wasn’t penalized. The NHL Player Safety department took no action.
‘Looking back at the video, really the contact that was made was, in my opinion, it’s really just a bump,’ Bennett told reporters on Tuesday. ‘There’s no forceful action. I’m trying to score. The last thing I’m thinking about is elbowing him in the head.’
Stolarz played for the Panthers last season.
‘Stoly is a great friend of mine, so when I hear he went to the hospital, of course I feed bad,’ Bennett said. ‘That’s why I reached out.’
Game 2 is at 7 p.m. ET Wednesday in Toronto. It will be broadcast by ESPN.
