After David Pastrňák — the same Boston Bruins winger who has a longstanding habit of hurting the Toronto Maple Leafs — came crashing into Anthony Stolarz on Tuesday night, there was a moment when thousands of fans inside Scotiabank Arena probably held their breath.
Stolarz was without a stick as Pastrňák tried to jam a shot past him. Pastrňák crashed into the Leafs goalie’s head, undoubtedly raising concerns about a position recently associated with injuries in Toronto.
But instead, the Leafs goalie stood up unscathed, making one of his 29 saves in a 4-0 win over the Bruins. It was Stolarz’s first shutout as a Leaf. The Leafs had previously gone winless in their last eight regular season games against the Bruins.
And as all 6-foot-6 of Stolarz emerged from a pile, he likely did so with the Leafs starter’s job firmly his for the first time this season.