Toronto’s Joseph Woll ruled out for Game 7 against Bruins

Auston Matthews is expected to return for the Toronto Maple Leafs for Saturday’s Game 7 against the Bruins.

But in a surprising turn of events, the Maple Leafs will try to beat the Bruins in their own building without goaltender Joseph Woll. Woll, who kept Toronto’s season alive by winning Games 5 and 6, will not play in Game 7 after suffering an injury Thursday night.

With Woll sidelined, the Maple Leafs will turn to Ilya Samsonov on Saturday night. Martin Jones will be Toronto’s backup.

“What I can tell you about Woll is that there was a play late in Game 6 in Toronto where he had to stretch to make a save and some people think he may have was injured on that play,” TSN’s Chris Johnston said. said about Woll’s status. “Now he took the starter’s net in the morning skate, did what I would call a typical routine – at least in my eyes – of what he would do. So there was no indication, at that point, that he wouldn’t play.

“But it’s pretty remarkable that Martin Jones, who is the Leafs’ third goalie, arrived with Ilya Samsonov and Joseph Woll on the same team bus at TD Garden tonight, which at least suggests the possibility that all or any of these three could be dressed for the game and ultimately, if Woll can’t go, the task will fall to Ilya Samsonov – who hasn’t played in a week in this series.

Woll’s absence is a huge blow to the Maple Leafs, who have been pushed to the brink of elimination with Samsonov in net. Samsonov was 1-3 in his first four games in this series, posting an .883 save percentage before being pulled in game four by Woll.

Woll, who played three seasons at Boston College, was a revelation in net for Toronto in this series. Although Boston failed to spice up Woll in net, the 25-year-old made the saves when necessary, stopping 54 of the 56 shots he faced.

Even with Samsonov in net, the Maple Leafs should receive a significant boost with Matthews returning to the lineup. Matthews has missed Toronto’s last two games due to illness or injury, with Toronto managing to reel off two straight wins during that stretch thanks to Woll and a stingy defensive effort.

Still, Matthews is a 69-goal scorer who dominated Toronto’s Game 2 victory at TD Garden – scoring a goal and two assists in 23:24 of ice time while adding eight shots on goal, six shots safe, a high for the team, and winning. 16 of 23 faceoffs.

For the Bruins, Jeremy Swayman will get the start in net for a fifth consecutive game. Swayman is 3-2 in this series, with a .947 save percentage. Danton Heinen, who skated Saturday morning, was not on the ice for warmups and is expected to miss a second straight game.