Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Anthony Stolarz was struck in the throat by a puck during team warmups before Saturday's game against the Ottawa Senators at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa.[1]
Stolarz skated off the ice and was taken to a hospital as a precautionary measure. He underwent imaging tests and was released later that evening.[1][2]
Stolarz was scratched from the lineup, with Joseph Woll starting in net. The Maple Leafs lost 5-2 to the Senators.[1][3]
Maple Leafs forward William Nylander fired the shot during routine warmups. "Obviously, it’s really tough to see that happen," Nylander said. "I mean, I always come in and shoot the puck in the glove, and this one just came off a little bit to the left, and I hit him in the neck. So, I was obviously worried for him, but I’ve been texting with him. So, he seems to be OK."[4]
Head coach Craig Berube provided no further update on Stolarz after the game but said he expected the goaltender to join the team on its flight back to Toronto.[1]
Stolarz, a 32-year-old from Jackson, New Jersey, is in his second NHL season with the Maple Leafs after signing a five-year, $45 million contract on July 2, 2024.[5][6] He previously served as backup to Sergei Bobrovsky on the Florida Panthers' 2024 Stanley Cup-winning team.[7]
Sources
- NHL.com, "Leafs' Stolarz hospitalized, released after puck hits throat in warmup", March 21, 2026, https://www.nhl.com/mapleleafs/news
- Sportsnet, "Stolarz taken to hospital after freak warmup injury vs. Senators", March 21, 2026, https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/
- NHL.com, Official Game Boxscore: Senators vs. Maple Leafs, March 21, 2026, https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/sen-vs-tor/2026/03/21
- New York Post, "Nylander on accidentally hitting Stolarz: 'Seems to be OK'", March 22, 2026, https://nypost.com/
- Toronto Maple Leafs (official), "Maple Leafs sign goaltender Anthony Stolarz to five-year contract", July 2, 2024, https://www.nhl.com/mapleleafs/news/maple-leafs-sign-goalie-anthony-stolarz-to-five-year-contract
- Spotrac, "Anthony Stolarz Contract Details", accessed October 2024, https://www.spotrac.com/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs/anthony-stolarz-20211/
- NHL.com, "Panthers defeat Oilers to win first Stanley Cup in franchise history", June 24, 2024, https://www.nhl.com/news/florida-panthers-win-first-stanley-cup-in-franchise-history
