There’s lots to debate about the Maple Leafs’ level of play so far, but you can’t argue with an extra overtime point and three wins through five games.
Thursday’s 2-1 triumph over the New York Rangers was all about their best players showing up when it counted, Anthony Stolarz coming up large all night, William Nylander with two assists including one on Auston Matthews’ overtime winning goal.
Our takeaways on a night when the Scotiabank Arena crowd could jointly cheer the Leafs and an early lead for the Blue Jays in Seattle:
STOLARZ STOLE ONE
An .886 save percentage coming in looked very out of place for last year’s league leader at .926. Stolarz went right to work improving that with 19 stops through two periods, facing three Rangers power plays.
His own team was his worst enemy at times, but he overcame 21 giveaways and poor clearing to get across the crease several times to make 28 saves. The league’s fancy stats had him at nine power-play saves and eight high-danger chances.
It helps him to be 6-foot-6 and see through that traffic, which included at least one incursion by Rangers’ giant forward Matt Rempe. Stolarz gave him a half playful hug after an encounter before imparting a message for him to get off his front lawn.
“With him, you have to look through his arms, his legs, his hips,” Stolarz said .
Matthews spoke for many players on the level of security a hot Stolarz provides.
“Just another example tonight of what he is,” he said. “He’s a big communicator back there, he let’s you know what’s going on — and also when he doesn’t like what he’s seeing. You can really appreciate that.”
Maple Leafs goaltender Anthony Stolarz (41) makes a save as New York Rangers’ Mika Zibanejad (93) and Toronto Maple Leafs’ Jake McCabe (22) and Chris Tanev (8) look on during first period NHL hockey action in Toronto on Thursday, October 16, 2025. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette)
RULE UNMASKED
It was interesting that the NHL chose Thursday to distribute it’s annual copy of the rulebook in the press box as there was a little-known regulation that led to a dangerous third-period exchange. With Stolarz’s mask dislodged by a shot, he shook the head gear off completely, expecting a whistle, only to stop a hard shot by New York’s J.T. Miller.
The Leafs stalked both Miller and the referees, demanding an explanation, which was that the Rangers were allowed to proceed with their scoring chance despite Stolarz being bare-headed. It was news to him.
“Hopefully, the league can look at it, talk to some goalies or people who have knowledge of the position and we can come to some kind of compromise where our safety isn’t at risk,” suggested Stolarz.
Coach Craig Berube was not in total agreement with the rule.
“It’s a judgement call by the referees. They felt (New York) had an opportunity to make a play quickly and score. It’s a tough call, your goalie loses his mask, he’s in a very vulnerable position.”
Stolarz also has a tendency to lose his stick when he gets low in the crease, which happened just before New York’s lone goal in the third period.
There was some irony in him making a maskless stop as he had a chance in the third period to become the first Toronto goalie since the the famous battered mug of Johnny Bower in 1967 to shut the Rangers out at home. That ended on Juuso Parssinen’s tip of a Braden Schneider shot.
NO FLOW
It continues to be a chore for Berube to get clean play through the neutral zone and Thursday was complicated by the Leafs’ inability to break out of their own end. Crossing their own blueline, especially while killing three power plays, was unusually difficult.
“We got caught extending our shifts,” observed the coach. “And we lost our transition from defence to offence.”
That ongoing lack of cohesion led to at least one change in the third period, Easton Cowan benched for Bobby McMann on the first line after his five giveaways contributed to another night of double figures in that dubious department. The general team malaise, which comes during a fourth game in six nights, could be Steven Lorentz’s ticket back in the lineup Saturday against Seattle after a head injury kept him out for a couple.
WORKING OVERTIME
There were some dicey moments in the season’s first 3-on-3 extra period when New York controlled the opening faceoff and had the first good look. But Matthews credited Morgan Rielly with a strong defensive play that sent he and Nylander up ice for the winner.
It was Matthews’ 14th overtime goal, tying Mats Sundin’s franchise record, and a great way for Rielly to mark his 878th game, tying Tomas Kaberle for third in history for Toronto defencemen, leaving only Tim Horton (1,184) and Borje Salming (1,099) with more.
Lhornby@postmedia.com
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