Maple Leafs reveal goaltender Joseph Woll's status for next game

Toronto Maple Leafs fans have been waiting patiently for an update on whether or not Joseph Woll will play on Saturday, with Sportnet's Elliotte Friedman recently stating he may be ready to get back into the lineup.

While the news remains positive on Woll, Friedman's suggestion of an imminent return may be a bit premature. Woll is not quite ready to go yet.

While Woll has taken part in skates both with and without the team, and is said to be feeling much better, he won't be between the pipes for the Maple Leafs when the team takes on the Edmonton Oilers Saturday.

That means the earliest he can return now is Tuesday, Dec 16 against the Chicago Blackhawks. Dennis Hildeby, who has been the team's de facto starter with both Woll and Anthony Stolarz on the sidelines, will likely start for the team again Saturday night, with Artur Akhtyamov backing him up.

While the news on Woll is somewhat disappointing, there's plenty of confidence from teammates and fans in Hildeby right now. He has been fantastic in his last three starts, with one of those being a 29-save shutout against the Tampa Bay Lightning this week. The team has every reason to believe it can win with Hildeby in the crease.

It's been a tough season for the Maple Leafs so far when it comes to injuries. With Woll very close to returning, the immediate future looks at least a little brighter.