Joseph Woll smiled and laughed after Maple Leafs practice on Tuesday, bouncing from his dressing room stall toward teammate and friend Matthew Knies. Woll continued to grin as he took playful jabs at Knies for not returning an earlier phone call.

It was as relaxed and eager as Woll has looked all season, especially considering he stumbled out of the gates with a groin injury before the season started.

And now Woll will have even more reason to feel eager about what’s in front of him: a bona fide opportunity to be trusted as the Leafs’ starting goalie.

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