Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Anthony Stolarz was struck in the throat by a puck during warmups before the team's game against the Ottawa Senators at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa.[1][2]
The 32-year-old New Jersey native was scratched from the starting lineup and transported to a local hospital as a precautionary measure. He underwent imaging and was released later the same day.[1][3]
The incident occurred when teammate William Nylander shot a puck toward the net during routine warmups. "I always come in and shoot the puck in the glove, and this one just came off a little bit to the left, and I hit him in the neck," Nylander said. "I've been texting with him. So, he seems to be OK."[3][4]
Joseph Woll replaced Stolarz in net and allowed five goals as the Maple Leafs lost 5-2 to the Senators.[1][2]
Head coach Craig Berube said after the game that he had no further update on Stolarz but expected him to join the team for the flight back to Toronto.[1][5]
Stolarz, entering his second season with the Maple Leafs after winning the Stanley Cup as Sergei Bobrovsky's backup with the Florida Panthers in 2024, signed a five-year, $27.5 million contract ($5.5 million AAV) with Toronto on July 2, 2024.[6][7]
This season, Stolarz has an 8-9-3 record with a .894 save percentage in 22 games. He previously missed 33 games due to an upper-body injury.[1][5]
Sources
- NHL.com
Maple Leafs goaltender Stolarz hospitalized after warmups incident vs. Senators
March 22, 2026
https://www.nhl.com/mapleleafs/news/stolarz-hospitalized-after-puck-to-throat-in-warmups-vs-senators - Sportsnet
Leafs' Stolarz taken to hospital after freak puck to throat in warmups
March 22, 2026
https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs/anthony-stolarz-hospital-puck-throat-warmups/ - New York Post
Nylander reacts to accidentally hitting Stolarz in neck with shot
March 22, 2026
https://nypost.com/2026/03/22/sports/nylander-stolarz-puck-throat/ - Toronto Maple Leafs official website
Game recap: Senators 5, Maple Leafs 2
March 22, 2026
https://www.nhl.com/mapleleafs/gamecentre/ott-vs-tor/2026/03/21/ - Fox News Digital
Leafs goalie Stolarz to hospital after puck incident
March 22, 2026
https://www.foxnews.com/sports/maple-leafs-stolarz-hospitalized-puck-throat - NHL.com
Anthony Stolarz player profile
Accessed March 2026
https://www.nhl.com/mapleleafs/player/anthony-stolarz-8477934 - Wikipedia
Anthony Stolarz
Accessed March 2026
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthony_Stolarz
