Maple Leafs Goalie Anthony Stolarz Confirms Deal He Made With Referees in Game 3

The Toronto Maple Leafs are riding a high after a thrilling 3-2 overtime victory over the Ottawa Senators, giving them a commanding 3-0 stranglehold on their 1st Round series.

Goaltender Anthony Stolarz was sensational in the win, minus one small gaffe in the third period, stopping 18 of the 20 shots he faced in the contest.

It wasn't just his on-ice performance that stood out, but also the way he stood his ground off the puck, and backed himself up, showcasing his grit and confidence.

According to Luke Fox on X, Stolarz had a brief exchange with the referees before the game, attempting to make a deal:

Stolarz was likely referencing his recent altercation with Senators agitator Ridly Greig, where the goalie made it clear that he wasn't someone to be pushed around, delivering a series of slashes and punches, and shoving Greig to the ground while he positioned himself within the blue paint, and attempted to skate by the goaltender afterwards.

While some around the league were impressed with Stolarz's attitude, others have criticized the response, suggesting it was inappropriate and possibly deserving of a suspension.

Despite the controversy, there's no doubt Stolarz has already locked down the Leafs' starting goalie position through the rest of these playoffs. He's started all three games of the series and has been outstanding between the pipes.

The Maple Leafs will now look to complete the sweep in Ottawa on Saturday and punch their ticket to the second round -- something they're not exactly used to -- as they continue their quest to end the dreaded Stanley Cup drought.