Stolarz to miss at least 1 more game on IR

The Toronto Maple Leafs placed goaltender Anthony Stolarz on injured reserve retroactive to Dec. 12, the club announced Sunday.

The minimum stay on regular IR is seven days, meaning he'll miss Wednesday's game against the Dallas Stars before he's eligible to return for Friday's road contest against the Buffalo Sabres.

Stolarz was already ruled out for Sunday's home date with the Sabres, and he also missed Saturday's loss to the Detroit Red Wings.

The netminder got hurt during a win over the Anaheim Ducks on Thursday. Toronto head coach Craig Berube called him day-to-day Friday and said it was "good news overall."

Stolarz has been phenomenal in his first campaign with the Maple Leafs: He came into Sunday leading the NHL in save percentage (.927) among those who've played more than four games. He also ranks third in the league in goals saved above expected (14.59) and second in goals saved above average (13.17), per Evolving-Hockey.

The veteran puck-stopper, who'll turn 31 in January, is 9-5-2 with one shutout over 17 games this season.

Stolarz was one of the best backups in the league in 2023-24. He signed a two-year deal at $2.5 million annually with the Leafs in July after helping the Florida Panthers win the Stanley Cup in June.