FACEOFF: Rookie goaltender Joseph Woll stands tall, gives Maple Leafs life against Bruins
TORONTO (AP) — Joseph Woll knew he wasn’t getting the nod for Game 1 of the playoffs.
The Toronto Maple Leafs had clearly been leaning toward Ilya Samsonov late in the regular season, including a week of rest for the goaltender ahead of the Stanley Cup chase. Woll didn’t pout. He kept his head down and stayed ready.
“It was really obvious to me that he was going to just continue to work,” Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe said. “And prepare as though he was playing.”
Woll got that chance Tuesday night, making 27 saves in his first start in more than two weeks to backstop Toronto’s 2-1 overtime victory that cut Boston’s lead to 3-2 in the best-of-seven, first-round series.
The calm, cool 25-year-old has given Toronto hope. Game 6 is Thursday night in Toronto (8 p.m. Eastern, TBS) and is the only game on the NHL slate.
“He’s unbelievable,” said Max Domi, who stepped into the Leafs’ No. 1 center spot with Auston Matthews unavailable. “He’s been sitting around for a while. Shows how mature he is and the presence that he brings when he steps in between the pipes.”