Maple Leafs goalie Anthony Stolarz hospitalized after puck hits throat in freak warmup incident

Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Anthony Stolarz was hospitalized aft taking a puck to nan pharynx during warmups earlier his commencement against nan Ottawa Senators. 

Stolarz was scratched from Saturday’s contest, and taken disconnected nan crystal wherever he went to nan infirmary arsenic a precautionary measure. He received immoderate images and was later released, per NHL.com.

Maple Leafs caput coach Craig Berube didn’t person an update for Stolarz aft his squad fell to nan Senators, 5-2, though he believed he would beryllium gathering nan squad for their formation backmost to Toronto. 

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Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Anthony Stolarz spits retired his h2o during nan 2nd play of a NHL crippled betwixt nan Minnesota Wild and Toronto Maple Leafs connected March 15, 2026, astatine Grand Casino Arena successful Saint Paul, MN. (Nick Wosika/Icon Sportswire)

The infinitesimal was captured by Sportsnet, wherever a changeable was taken by a Maple Leafs subordinate for illustration normal warmups. But it caught Stolarz successful nan worse spot – correct betwixt his pads and mask.

Stolarz quickly skated retired of net, and he yet went into nan Maple Leafs’ passageway earlier heading retired of nan arena. 

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William Nylander was nan 1 who threw nan changeable connected nett that deed Stolarz successful nan throat, and he said astir nan freak incident aft nan loss. 

"Obviously, it’s really reliable to spot that happen," he said, per nan New York Post. "I mean, I ever travel successful and sprout nan puck successful nan glove, and this 1 conscionable came disconnected a small spot to nan left, and I deed him successful nan neck. So, I was evidently worried for him, but I’ve been texting pinch him. So, he seems to beryllium OK."

Anthony Stolarz of nan Toronto Maple Leafs warms up earlier playing against nan Anaheim Ducks astatine nan Scotiabank Arena connected March 12, 2026 successful Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Mark Blinch/NHLI)

In turn, Joseph Woll took complete successful net, and he didn’t person nan champion outing, pinch 5 goals allowed. 

Stolarz, nan 32-year-old New Jersey native, owns an 8-9-3 grounds and .894 prevention percent complete 22 games pinch nan Maple Leafs. This is his 2nd play pinch Toronto aft backing up Sergei Bobrovsky pinch nan Florida Panthers successful 2024. 

Stolarz was portion of the Panthers' Stanley Cup-winning squad that year. 

He went connected to motion a four-year, $15 cardinal woody pinch nan Maple Leafs successful September 2025 contempt having knee room that held him to 34 games during nan 2024-25 campaign. 

Anthony Stolarz of nan Toronto Maple Leafs looks connected during a crippled betwixt nan Toronto Maple Leafs and New Jersey Devils astatine Prudential Center connected March 4, 2026 successful Newark, New Jersey. (Andrew Mordzynski/Icon Sportswire)

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Unfortunately, nan wounded bug continued this year, arsenic Stolarz was forced to miss 33 games owed to an upper-body wounded earlier this season. 

It’s been a unsmooth play for nan Maple Leafs, who are connected nan extracurricular looking successful pinch conscionable 11 games near to play. They person 71 points, sitting astatine nan bottommost of nan Atlantic Division pinch nan Panthers.

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