Leafs’ Joseph Woll gets call for high-stakes game vs. Avs

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A big reason Craig Berube is the sixth coach in Maple Leafs history to win at least 40 games in a season can be traced to the crease.

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Toronto’s goaltending is at its strongest in years with a maturing Joseph Woll and veteran Anthony Stolarz — the latter a Stanley Cup winner with Florida as a backup last season — both earning more starts here. As of Wednesday morning, Stolarz stood fourth in NHL save percentage with .918, Woll 22nd with .905 having made more appearances.

Woll will be in goal against the Colorado Avalanche at Scotiabank Arena, as big an assignment as he can get, given the calibre of opponent. The Avs are on a roll of 8-1-1, including a 7-4 win over Toronto in Denver when a late power-play goal and two empty-netters sank Stolarz and his mates.

“I liked his last two games (a shootout win over Utah and 24 saves in defeating Calgary on Monday),” Berube said of Woll.

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Stolarz would be in line to face the Rangers in New York in Thursday’s end of a back-to-back set. Both have had a hiccup game or two this season, but other than Stolarz needing a few weeks off for minor knee surgery, their record and their chemistry have been solid.

The Av had turned over more than a third of their team this season, the most noteworthy moves being the trade of Mikko Rantanen to Carolina for Martin Necas, then dealing at the deadline for Islanders’ Brock Nelson and Boston’s Charlie Coyle to strengthen the centre position, and also landing defenceman Ryan Lindgren from the Rangers. Earlier, they brought in Mackenzie Blackwood in net, who has won 18 of his 28 appearances.

“(Management) steadily said they would do what they could to help our team,” Colorado coach Jared Bednar said. “You have players such as Nathan Mackinnon and Cale Makar and you don’t want them to miss out on opportunities. Those guys give you a chance to win, but finding guys you can fit in under the cap can be a challenge and they did an outstanding job showing belief in our team and an understanding of what we needed.

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“You look at both (the Avs and Leafs) and we’re in similar situations Almost identical records, trying to climb the standings a little bit. (The last meeting) had some pace and intensity to it.”

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The Leafs’ 6-2 decision against Calgary brought Berube to 40 wins with his third different team, but only the second time in Toronto franchise history a new coach followed another to that mark (Sheldon Keefe after Mike Babcock, Berube after Keefe).

“We have good players, great players,” Berube said of his influence and what he had to work with. “We’ve really grown as a team, playing a really good team game. Defensively, offensively, our power play is coming and clicking. Our penalty killing has slid a little bit, but been steady the last month.

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“But we have to keep playing a team game. The checking side of things is really important. As a coaching staff I think we’ve brought in a predictability of how we want to play the game. And these guys (Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, William Nylander and John Tavares) have scored goals pretty much their whole careers. Unlike me.”

It’s the second time in less than two weeks that former Boston teammates Brandon Carlo and Coyle will face each other. In a surreal moment, they boarded the same Boston-to-Denver flight and sat a row apart.

“That helped both of us,” Coyle said.  “We got to talk, release some stress about what you’re going through. Then (24 hours later) I’m in the corners with him. Kind of funny, but that’s what makes hockey special.

“I won’t like him tonight.”

Being with the Avs as opposed to the playoff-challenged Bruins was quite the switch for both.

“I’m just trying to get my bearings, get to know everyone’s nicknames and the trainer’s names,” Coyle said. “In Boston I was home; Denver, I have to explore.

“But it’s awesome to see how dialed in they are here and not just the players, it’s the coaches, trainers, strength coaches. Everyone knows their job means a lot. I think that’s why they’re at the place they are every year and go all in.

“There’s no guessing about where we stand.”

lhornby@postmedia.com

@sunhornby

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