Former Maple Leafs Goalie Joseph Woll Can't Catch a Break

Has there ever been a goaltender who has played well enough to win but somehow can't buy a victory? I suspect most hockey fans have seen it happen, but former Toronto Maple Leafs goalie Joseph Woll is making a pretty good case for being one of the unluckiest young goalies in the NHL right now.

Talk about a tough start to the season for Flyers goalie Woll.

Woll is now with the Philadelphia Flyers, and his start to the 2026-27 season has been a head-scratcher. Through four starts, he's 0-2-2, with a 2.95 goals-against average and a .914 save percentage. Those aren't terrible numbers. In fact, they're respectable enough that you'd think he'd have at least one win to show for his work. Instead, he's still waiting for that first one.

The Flyers are giving Woll and Dan Vladar alternating starts, and Woll is expected to get the call Thursday night against Detroit. Maybe this is the night things finally turn his way. Goaltending's a funny thing. A goalie can make 30 saves, keep his team in a game, and still walk away without a win because the offence doesn't score enough, a defensive breakdown proves costly, or one bad bounce changes everything. The record says 0-2-2, but it doesn't tell the whole story of how a goalie has played.

Woll was a popular goalie in Toronto.

For Maple Leafs fans, there's probably a little extra interest here. Woll was a popular figure in Toronto, and many of us hoped he'd become a dependable answer in net for years. His time with the Maple Leafs had its own challenges, and now he's trying to find his footing in Philadelphia. It's still early, and four starts aren't enough to draw big conclusions about where his season is headed.

But you do have to feel for the guy. Goalies are often judged by wins and losses, even when so much of what happens is outside their control. A .914 save percentage suggests Woll is stopping a good share of the shots coming his way. The 2.95 goals-against average isn't spectacular, but it hardly tells the story of a goalie who's falling apart.

There is another side to this, too. A young goalie needs more than good numbers to build confidence. He needs a win now and then, a game where he makes a few big saves late and gets to enjoy the feeling of helping his team across the finish line. Those moments can matter, especially when a goalie is trying to establish himself with a new club.

Woll’s first win in a Flyers uniform would be a relief for him and his new team.

Woll doesn't need to win every game to prove he belongs. But getting that first victory would be a welcome start, and perhaps a little relief after a frustrating opening stretch.

Thursday against Detroit offers another opportunity. Here's hoping the Flyers give him enough support to make the most of it. If you're a Maple Leafs fan who still has a soft spot for Woll, you can certainly cheer for that. Sometimes a goalie just needs one night when the bounces go his way.