Stolarz Stole It, Groulx Shocked Them: What the Maple Leafs Learned
The Toronto Maple Leafs went into snowy St. Paul Sunday night and managed to walk away with a 4–2 win over the Minnesota Wild. It was one of those hold-on-tight wins. The Maple Leafs built a tidy 3–0 lead through two periods and then spent most of the third period hanging on while Minnesota came at them like a team that had just remembered the game had started.
Coach Craig Berube summed it up about as plainly as you could. The Maple Leafs didn’t intend to sit back. The Wild pushed hard, entered the zone with speed, and made things tough. Toronto survived thanks to a pile of blocked shots, a very busy goaltender, and a little bit of puck luck along the way. Sometimes hockey is like that.
Still, a night like this usually teaches you a few things. And the Maple Leafs probably learned at least three.
First, the Maple Leafs Learned that Anthony Stolarz Can Win You Games
Anthony Stolarz showed again that he can absolutely steal a game when things get messy. The Maple Leafs were outshot 38–26, and there were stretches—especially in the third period—when it felt like Minnesota had the puck permanently parked in the Toronto zone.
Stolarz turned aside 36 of those shots and had to be sharp when the Wild pushed after scoring two quick goals early in the third. Berube called him “very competitive,” which is coach-speak for a goalie who refused to blink when the pressure started piling up.
Second, Bo “Knows” Groulx Is Finding His Game
Second lesson: Bo Groulx might be carving out a nice little role for himself. Just how good has this guy been lately? Groulx scored twice—his second and third goals of the season—and did it with the sort of honesty that hockey players are famous for. He admitted the first one bounced off his skate, and the second came on a lucky rebound in the slot. In other words, the kind of goals you score when you’re around the net and working.
Berube likes what he gets from Groulx shift after shift. He’s a smart player, has good hockey sense, and apparently can adjust his pace when he realizes the game requires it.
Third, this Maple Leafs Team Actually Can Compete When Things Get Tight
The third takeaway is about the team’s competitive level. The Maple Leafs blocked 28 shots in this one, which is a lot of rubber to stand in front of. When Minnesota made its push, Toronto’s players were diving in lanes, battling around their own crease, and doing the little uncomfortable things that help you close out a game.
It wasn’t cute, but it was effective.
The Bottom Line for the Maple Leafs
The bottom line for the Maple Leafs is pretty simple. They didn’t dominate the Wild, but they showed they can survive a frantic road game when their goalie is strong, their depth chips in, and the whole group is willing to grind out the final minutes.
Now they head home to face the New York Islanders Tuesday night at Scotiabank Arena. And if you’re the Maple Leafs, you’ll happily take two points any way you can get them. That’s the kind of math that tends to work out nicely over a long season.