Stolarz departs Maple Leafs' game against Capitals with lower-body injury

Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Anthony Stolarz (41) is helped off the ice by teammates following an injury against the Washington Capitals during first period NHL hockey action in Toronto on Wednesday, April 8, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn

Maple Leafs goaltender Anthony Stolarz left Wednesday’s game against the Washington Capitals early in the first period with a lower-body injury.

The Toronto starter was hurt after stretching out his left leg to get a pad on Cole Hutson’s shot from distance.

Stolarz immediately collapsed to the ice and pulled off his mask before one of the referees blew the play dead.

The 32-year-old was attended to by a trainer and had to be helped off the ice by teammates before heading down the tunnel to the locker room.

Stolarz, who missed significant time with an upper-body injury in the fall and has had trouble staying healthy throughout his time in Toronto, is 10-10-3 with a .892 save percentage and a 3.29 goals-against average in 2025-26.

Joseph Woll replaced Stolarz for the Maple Leafs, who are set to miss the playoffs for the first time since 2016, against the Capitals. He has a 15-14-7 mark, .902 save percentage and 3.32 GAA this season.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 8, 2026.

Joshua Clipperton, The Canadian Press