The Toronto Maple Leafs are entering the final stretch of their season outside of the postseason race and dealing with mounting injury concerns.
Some of those are impacting the most important position across the lineup, as the Leafs already were without a starting netminder and lost the second leg of their tandem on Wednesday.
With 1A goalie Joseph Woll resting, it was 1B netminder and Wednesday's starter Anthony Stolarz who exited just minutes into the first period of the game against the Washington Capitals after suffering a lower-body injury.
Leafs head coach Craig Berube addressed Stolarz's status after the game, with Woll stepping up and taking over after the starter went out.
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“As of now, it’s lower-body. He’s out,” Berube said. “I don’t know right now (about the rest of the season). He’ll get some imaging done.”
Stolarz had to be helped off the ice after appearing in visible pain following a save attempt.
Woll completed 57:05 minutes of playing time and finished the game, but has struggled recently. The goalie had allowed a staggering 20 goals over his last four starts, and bagged three more on Wednesday.
With those subpar performances in mind and following Stolarz's injury, Berube made a move for Thursday’s matchup against the New York Islanders.
Berube confirmed that Artur Akhtyamov will get the start in what will be his first NHL start. He came in relief once earlier this season.
“We just want to see him,” Berube said. “I really liked him right from camp. He has played well down there, and he is a competitor. He really has fast reflexes and is competitive as hell. I like the kid a lot.”
The Leafs visit the Islanders on Thursday, with puck drop set for 6:45 p.m. ET.
