Anthony Stolarz was removed from the game in favour of Joseph Woll with a little less than 10 minutes remaining in the middle frame. There was no definitive reason given for Stolarz’s departure, however, he did receive an elbow to the head from Panthers forward Sam Bennett a few minutes before he was replaced.

As the puck dropped to begin the third period, Toronto announced that Stolarz remained under evaluation and would not return. The Maple Leafs’ third goalie is Dennis Hildeby and he sat on the bench during the third period.

“Elbow to the head, clearly. Clear as day,” Maple Leafs coach Craig Berube said after the game. “I get it, they miss calls but it’s clearly a penalty.”

The coach added that Stolarz is still being evaluated but Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman and Luke Fox reported that the goaltender was taken to hospital in an ambulance.

Stolarz has stolen the Toronto net in these playoffs, working all six games in the Maple Leafs’ Round 1 win over the Ottawa Senators. The former Panthers backstop posted a .901 save percentage and 2.22 goals-against average (GAA) in the opening-round series win.

In the regular season, Stolarz appeared in 34 games for the Maple Leafs, finishing his debut year in the blue and white with a 21-8-3 record, a .926 save percentage and 2.14 GAA.

He had made eight saves on nine shots before leaving on Monday.

“Hopeful for Anthony and his health,” Panthers head coach Paul Maurice, who coached Stolarz in Florida last season, said. “We love that guy and we hope he gets better real fast.”

Woll, meanwhile, was excellent in last year’s playoffs, allowing just two goals in three games during Toronto’s first-round loss to the Boston Bruins.

He played 42 games in 2024-25, totalling a 27-14-1 record, .909 save percentage and 2.73 GAA.

“We didn’t know what happened,” Morgan Rielly said after the game. “But we have all the faith in the world in Joe.”

The Maple Leafs won the game 5-3. Woll allowed three goals on 20 shots to preserve the victory.