COLUMBUS — Jake McCabe walked past a group of reporters waiting to speak to Joseph Woll, one of the last players to emerge from the Toronto Maple Leafs dressing room late Wednesday night, and quickly cracked wise.

“You guys are making Joe late for the bus,” McCabe said. Woll broke out into laughter.

It was easy for Woll and the Leafs to laugh after a 2-1 overtime win over the Columbus Blue Jackets. But the win proved one thing about this Leafs team right now: No team bus, proverbial or otherwise, is leaving without their starting goalie. With Anthony Stolarz’s return from injury not on the horizon, Woll looks capable of driving the Leafs forward through an ugly stretch.

On a night when the Blue Jackets had 3.21 expected goals, according to Natural Stat Trick, Woll stole the Leafs a win they didn’t always deserve — and one they so desperately needed to start this trip.

“(Woll’s) battle was really good in the net. He fought. He fought through traffic and was seeing (the puck) really well tonight,” Leafs coach Craig Berube said.

Were there signs of life from the Leafs in just their second win over their past nine games? Sure.

Their penalty kill stood tall in the face of questionable calls. The Leafs did create dangerous chances in the first and second periods, too. Easton Cowan tying the score late in the third period before William Nylander scored his franchise-leading 15th overtime goal suggested there’s some resilience left in the Leafs.

That said, were there signs the Leafs were on their way to dominating a game the way a playoff team might? Not yet.

But if Woll keeps playing the way he did against the Blue Jackets, he could give them a chance to get there. He may have bought the team in front of him some time to right the wrongs of its season.

“Whether we win or lose, I try to keep the same mindset,” Woll said. “I preach that a lot. And it’s a good little confidence boost to continue going forward.”

This list of Leafs players who have looked capable of dominating games this season, or even elevating their play, is a short one. We can now add Woll’s name to that list after he stopped a ridiculous 35 of 36 shots in the win. His composure and ability to track pucks so well kept the Leafs in a game they drifted in and out of. And his play was all the more impressive considering it was his fifth start in 12 days.

“(Woll) looks sharp to me,” Berube said of Woll since his return to the Leafs. “He looks like he is on his toes and is seeing the play really well. He is playing a lot of pucks. … He’s seeing the puck and is making some really good saves.”

Woll is putting on an absolute clinic pic.twitter.com/HQFAA7IxPQ

— Omar (@TicTacTOmar) November 27, 2025

 

“(Woll) had some great saves tonight. It’s a good team, a lot of skill — high-end skill and speed — and I thought he played really well,” said Auston Matthews, who made his return from injury against the Blue Jackets.

Only 10 times through Woll’s NHL regular-season career has he stopped more shots than he did against Columbus. But given the state of the lagging team around him and how close the Leafs feel to making a season-altering change to shake them out of their funk, and then considering Woll missed nearly all of training camp and had only a few practices under his belt before returning to game action, Wednesday’s win starts to feel like the most pivotal regular-season win of Woll’s career.

At the very least, it was one of his most composed and efficient games in recent memory. He was never caught out of position and made even quick, difficult saves look tidy. Woll is at his best when he relies on his structure. That structure and calmness, even in the face of heightened tension around the Leafs, stood out more than his athleticism did.

“I think (Woll) is always extremely poised and confident in the net, no matter what’s going on or what happens. He’s very focused, and I can see that in his demeanor and the way he asserts himself out there,” Matthews said.

The second period saw the Blue Jackets fire multiple shots in succession at Woll, many of which he turned away with his pad and blocker. Never once did Woll look fazed. And this comes after he was pulled in his last game — reluctantly, of course — after giving up four goals on 25 shots. For Woll to rebound with a dynamic performance, any questions about his readiness after missing training camp and the first month of the season for a personal matter should be put to rest.

clutch blocker from Joseph Woll pic.twitter.com/sFKbQSnDc2

— Omar (@TicTacTOmar) November 27, 2025

The win brings the Leafs back to .500 and out of last place in the Eastern Conference. They have a goalie who looks capable of stealing wins in a way Stolarz did not in Woll’s absence. Yes, Stolarz looked overworked and like he was carrying a nagging injury. But Wednesday night was proof Woll can step up in a way the Leafs need him to. Whether the team around him responds will determine whether this recent skid is a blip or the sign of things to come.

The Leafs did not show up for most of the third period. Max Domi’s questionable play with the puck in his own zone led to the Blue Jackets’ goal. The Leafs as a whole took their foot off the gas and were outshot 14-6 in the final frame. The Blue Jackets owned 62 percent of the expected goals (all situations) in the period.

The Leafs’ first power-play unit turned the puck over in the third period, leading to a three-on-one. Woll again stretched to shut the door.

Since he has returned, Woll has not looked fazed in the slightest after giving up goals. There’s a newfound heightened seriousness to his demeanour that maybe wasn’t there in years past.

Asked how he has felt overall since his return, Woll only offered, “Just happy to be a part of the team.”

He might be a different goalie since his return. Whether the Leafs can become a different team remains to be seen.