BURST
The shadow looming over the Toronto Maple Leafs’ second-round series-opening win over the Florida Panthers on Tuesday morning was the condition of goaltender Anthony Stolarz.
About seven minutes into the second period, with the Leafs ahead 4-1, the Panthers forward Sam Bennett’s right forearm collided with the left side of the netminder’s head during a play in front of the net.
Stolarz fell to the ice momentarily, but stayed in. There was no penalty called on Bennett.
Does Sam Bennett deserve a hearing with @NHLPlayerSafety for his collision with Stolarz? pic.twitter.com/B7LonzNEkG
— Spittin' Chiclets (@spittinchiclets) May 6, 2025
After a little more than two minutes of game time — approximately nine minutes of real time — cameras appeared to show Stolarz vomiting into a bucket at the bench during a TV timeout. He was pulled from the game and replaced by Joseph Woll, who made 17 stops in relief.
Vomiting is a common concussion symptom, according to the Concussion Legacy Foundation , and anyone experiencing it should seek immediate medical attention.
After the game, it was learned that Stolarz left the Air Canada Centre on a stretcher and was taken by ambulance to a local hospital.
Anthony Stolarz was seen vomiting into a bucket before being pulled from the game 😬🤮
— Gino Hard (@GinoHard_) May 6, 2025
(via Sportsnet) pic.twitter.com/dk4OSTJ2QC
“He’s being evaluated. That’s all I’ve got for ya,” head coach Craig Berube told reporters after the game.
The NHL has a concussion protocol designed to quickly identify and evaluate players who may have suffered a head injury. It starts with concussion spotters — people trained to look for the tell-tale symptoms — who can remove a player from the game for an acute evaluation by the team doctor, who then has the final say on whether the player can return to the game.
Anyone diagnosed with a concussion must follow the league’s recovery protocol.
Berube also told the media that he felt Bennett delivered an “elbow to the head.”
“I get it, they miss calls, but it’s clearly a penalty,” he added.
The Panthers did not make Bennett available to the media for post-game interviews.
According to The Athletic , league sources said early Tuesday morning that while they were looking at the incident, punishment seemed unlikely.
“Hopefully the league will handle it and take good care of it and protect our players,” said Leafs forward Matthew Knies, who was concussed on a Bennett hit during the 2023 playoffs.
Florida coach Paul Maurice had less to say on the matter, noting the referee had a better vantage point on the play.
Stolarz took two shots to the head in Monday night’s game. The first occurred about five minutes in when a shot from the Panthers’ Sam Reinhart struck him in the mask and knocked it off. The play was whistled down, but he remained in net.
Stolarz just took an 80mph puck to the face. Popped both straps off & dented his steel mask.
— Hans Olsen (@975Hans) May 6, 2025
When I put on the goalie gear, I took a glanced shot off the shoulder and into the face.
It feels like someone throwing a rock the size of a chew can as hard as they can into your helmet. pic.twitter.com/TdnTUJnpeu
Stolarz, who won a Stanley Cup with the Panthers last spring and signed with the Leafs in the offseason, has started all seven of the team’s playoff games, posting a 2.19 goals-against average and save percentage of .901.
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