Anthony Stolarz Turns Heads With Out of Pocket Message After Maple Leafs-Senators Series
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The Ottawa Senators are no longer a problem for the Toronto Maple Leafs, thanks in large part to the great job between the pipes Thursday night by netminder Anthony Stolarz. However, it was not a completely smooth ride in front of the net for the 31-year-old goalie during Toronto's 4-2 Game 6 win, as he still allowed two goals, including one in the third period from David Perron.
With under eight minutes remaining in regulation, Perron tied the score at 2-2 with a shot that banked off Stolarz before going in. Stolarz went low during that play, as he gave in to the temptation of knocking the puck away with his stick.
Perron made Stolarz pay for that decision, scoring a huge goal that brought the crowd inside Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa to their feet.
“Got a little horny on the poke-check, so you live and you learn,” Stolarz told reporters following the game (h/t bardown).
“And that’s the life of a goaltender. You just flush it out of your mind because the next shot’s coming, and it’s a more important one than the last one that just went in.”
Meanwhile, fans couldn’t help but react to what Stolarz said about the goal he surrendered to Perron.
"The goalies tend to get a little quirky at night," said a fan on Instagram.
Another one said: "Goalies are so odd 🤣”
From a commenter: "Guy is a stud.”
“Dudes gonna be a legend,” a social media user posted.
Via a different commenter: “This is an all-timer.”
“Tarps off interviews for the playoffs 🙌,” one shared.
Fortunately for Stolarz and the Maple Leafs, Max Pacioretty put the team ahead again -- and for good -- just two minutes later before William Nylander added an insurance with an empty-netter, as Toronto came away with a 4-2 victory to clinch the series and book its ticket to the second round.
Stolarz, who turned away 21 of 23 shots he faced in Game 6, will look to sustain his form as the Maple Leafs next take on the reigning Stanley Cup champions Florida Panthers in the second round.
Related: Maple Leafs' Anthony Stolarz Reveals Game 3 Message to NHL Officials
