Maple Leafs’ clear alternative in web ought to be Anthony Stolarz

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Give Anthony Stolarz the ball.

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Or the puck, the chance, the prospect — no matter you need to name it.

Doesn’t that quantity to a no brainer for the Maple Leafs relating to their goaltending proper now?

Poor netminding by Sergei Bobrovsky price the Leafs a degree, and probably two, in a 5-4 loss in Seattle towards the Kraken on Wednesday.

Within the super-tight Atlantic Division — during which simply six factors separated the first-place Boston Bruins and eighth-place Detroit Purple Wings earlier than Nationwide Hockey League video games on Thursday — there’s no reminder required that factors squandered on the finish of October received’t be there for the taking within the playoff push in March and April.

As soon as they’re gone, they’re gone.

When Bobrovsky couldn’t cease a Brandon Montour slapshot within the closing minute on Wednesday after Colton Sissons was overwhelmed on a defensive-zone draw by Matty Beniers, a objective that Leafs coach Jim Hiller rightly known as “a dagger” within the post-game aftermath, the Leafs didn’t have time to get well after making a valiant effort within the third to tie the sport.

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When the Leafs completely wanted a save, Bobrovsky couldn’t present one.

The Bobrovsky efficiency adopted a tricky night time for him in Calgary towards the Flames on Monday and was not a one-off.

We wouldn’t be calling for extra of Stolarz if it was.

Why is Bobrovsky’s document this season a priority?

9 of Bobrovsky’s 10 Leafs begins have included at the very least three targets towards. By way of Wednesday, the 33 targets allowed by Bobrovsky have been second-most within the NHL, although we word that with 602 minutes performed, Bobrovsky was the fourth-busiest goalie within the league.

To make use of one goalie by comparability, the Bruins’ Jeremy Swayman had performed another minute than Bobrovsky, however allowed 11 fewer targets — inform us that distinction hasn’t had an affect on the Atlantic standings.

At 7-6-2, the Leafs have been clinging to the second and final wild-card spot within the Jap Convention earlier than 11 NHL video games have been contested on Thursday night time.

Granted, the Leafs haven’t been what anybody would name air-tight in entrance of their goalies. At five-on-five, Toronto has allowed, per naturalstattrick.com, 135 high-danger scoring probabilities. Solely 5 NHL groups had given up extra.

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Bobrovsky’s high-danger save share is .772, fifty fifth amongst all NHL goalies. Stolarz was tenth at .897.

And as we’ve stated earlier than, if normal supervisor John Chayka is profitable in someway discovering a approach so as to add a defenceman, a single individual received’t flip the Leafs round defensively. A possible return of Chris Tanev, out since struggling an upper-body damage towards Colorado on Oct. 10, towards the Vancouver Canucks on Saturday ought to assist, however received’t strike off all of the of the Leafs’ defensive points.

What’s troubling, or ought to be for the crew, is that we maintain listening to from the gamers how impressed they’ve been with Bobrovsky’s preparation, routine and full skilled strategy to all the pieces he does. We’re not questioning whether or not any of that’s true.

The place, although, is the affect on all of that on Bobrovsky’s potential to cease the puck? Why is he overwhelmed routinely on excessive photographs, whether or not it’s on the glove facet (extra typically) than the blocker facet?

Why hasn’t Leafs goaltending coach Curtis Sanford been in a position to throw a curveball at what’s changing into an apparent a part of game-planning on the a part of opponents when Bobrovsky is in web?

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What ought to come subsequent within the Leafs crease?

At 38 and with one other two years remaining on his contract with a median annual worth of $7 million, Bobrovsky should be the supply of some measure of concern the Leafs’ entrance workplace. True, it’s the identical entrance workplace that ignored Bobrovsky’s dangerous closing season with the Florida Panthers upon locking him down for 3 years.

The Leafs had a scheduled time off on Thursday and are slated to practise on Friday in Vancouver earlier than the journey’s finale towards the Canucks.

Stolarz has been sharp in his previous two begins, which included wins towards Edmonton and Columbus. He’s 4-1-0 in 5 video games with a .907 save share.

Begin him in Vancouver. Give him the online once more on Tuesday, when the Leafs play host to the Utah Mammoth to begin a six-game house stand.

Bobrovsky wants some non-game time to work out some kinks.

With three wins in his first 10 video games with Toronto, the veteran of greater than 800 NHL video games hasn’t been ok.

tkoshan@postmedia.com

X: @koshtorontosun

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