Woll was aware that he wasn’t the preferred option for the opening playoff game. Ilya Samsonov has been the Toronto Maple Leafs’ recent favorite, receiving rest ahead of the Stanley Cup run. Woll remained unfazed. He remained prepared and concentrated.
Sheldon Keefe, the coach of the Leafs, said, “It was evident he would keep working hard.” “Like he was ready to play,” For Woll, Tuesday night was his big break. In his first start in more than two weeks, he made 27 stops to help Toronto win 2-1 in overtime and cut Boston’s advantage in the first-round series to 3-2.
The 25-year-old goalie’s calm and cool demeanor has helped Toronto’s chances. Game 6 is the only NHL game planned, and it takes place in Toronto on Thursday night. Max Domi, who replaced Auston Matthews at center, called him “amazing.” He has been anticipating his opportunity. His poise and maturity are evident when he’s in the net.
Boston was eliminated from the playoffs in seven games after blowing a 3-1 lead over Florida the previous year. After setting a record this season, the club seeking to avenge that loss will present a formidable challenge for the Leafs.
“The next game will be even tougher than the one on Tuesday,” Keefe said. “We captured their interest.”After losing six straight games in their series against the Tampa Bay Lightning last year, Toronto is looking to win its first playoff game at Scotiabank Arena. Keefe said, “We haven’t been strong on home ice. “But we deserve another opportunity to make that right.
Defenseman Brandon Carlo, who was sidelined for a portion of the previous game due to injury, will play in Game 6, according to Bruins coach Jim Montgomery. It will take several weeks for Andrew Peeke to return from his injury, since he is still healing. When Woll replaced Samsonov in the spring after the player’s injury against Florida, he acquired experience in the playoffs. In that series, he participated in three games, winning Game 4. Even though Woll lost in Game 5, he felt more at ease this time.
Woll stated, “That experience from last year was helpful.” “I felt more assured in this circumstance. You get more experience and learn from your errors with every game.Woll had an impressive 8-5-1 record and a.916 save percentage to start the 2023–24 season. Still, His high ankle sprain required twelve weeks of recuperation. His performance suffered a little after his comeback, but he didn’t let that get in the way of his routine.
