Maple Leafs Confirm Starting Goalie Against Rangers

The start of the Toronto Maple Leafs' season hasn't exactly gone as fans hoped. It all began back at training camp with the leave of absence for Joseph Woll, a setback that left Toronto's goalie depth situation uncertain right from the start.

Since then, Toronto has struggled to find a consistent rhythm or identity. The offense has had flashes of brilliance, but defensively, things have looked shaky, and goaltending hasn't been able to bail them out the way it sometimes did last season.

As the Leafs prepare for Game 5 of their NHL season against the New York Rangers, they're once again turning to Anthony Stolarz, hoping to pick up another win tonight. Stolarz holds a .886 save percentage through his first few starts.

While he hasn't had the kind of numbers he'd like, the blame doesn't rest squarely on him. The defense in front of him has been inconsistent, leaving him to deal with high-quality chances far too often.

Through four games, Toronto ranks sixth-last in the league in goals against, allowing 15 total in four games. For a team that came into the season with Stanley Cup aspirations, that's far from ideal.

Even though it's still early, this matchup with the Rangers feels like a tone-setting opportunity. New York has played one more game than Toronto and sits at 2-3, ranked 22nd in the NHL standings, while the Leafs sit 17th.

For Stolarz and the Maple Leafs, this is the kind of night they need to come out hard, fast, and focused. A strong performance here wouldn't just help their record; it could set the tone for the rest of the season and remind the league that the Leafs are still a real contender.