Goaltender Stolarz seizes upon opportunity to play
Coach Dallas Eakins called it “a feel-good story,” and he wasn’t wrong when describing Anthony Stolarz’s meteoric rise from forgotten member of the taxi squad for most of the season to invincible goaltender for the past two games.
It couldn’t have come at a better time during the Ducks’ lost season of 2020-21.
“I think the most important thing is how much his teammates have been cheering for him,” Eakins said. “They understand the challenges of the season, especially for the guys who have been on that taxi squad all year.
“He came in and played a game. We had other guys on the schedule. We just thought it was the right thing to do because he certainly earned another start. He showed up and had another really good performance.
“It’s a feel-good story the last few days, that’s for sure.”
Stolarz got an unexpected start Monday against the San Jose Sharks, one day after the Ducks were beaten 4-1 by the Colorado Avalanche. Usually this season, and in the past, John Gibson and Ryan Miller have split the goaltending duties when the Ducks have played on consecutive nights.
This time, Eakins decided to give Stolarz the start Monday, after Gibson faced the Avalanche one day earlier. Stolarz went out and made a career-high 46 saves in a 4-0 victory, setting a franchise record for the most saves in a shutout. It was the third shutout of his career.
Stolarz was so good, in fact, Eakins had to reward him with a second consecutive start Wednesday against the Sharks. Stolarz then rewarded Eakins’ faith in him by stopping 27 shots in a 4-1 victory, blanking the Sharks for another 57:44 until Erik Karlsson ended his shutout streak with a goal.
Gibson is likely to start today against the Vegas Golden Knights, but since Eakins called off practice and there was no media availability Thursday, there was no guarantee Stolarz wouldn’t play again. Eakins admitted Wednesday there was talk about rearranging the rotation.
“It already started,” Eakins said. “(Stolarz) wasn’t supposed to start (Wednesday). We ended up pushing ‘Gibby’ back. That’s what you need to do as a player. You need to be noticed and be noticed in a very good way. That kid is fighting for every night he can get. Good on him. We like having those conversations.”
Gibson, 27, has started 28 of the Ducks’ 44 games this season and has an 8-14-6 record with a 2.90 goals-against average, a .904 save percentage and three shutouts. Stolarz, 27, is 3-1-0 in five appearances with a 1.93 goals-against average, a .943 save percentage and one shutout.
Miller, 40, is 3-8-1 with a 3.60 goals-against average and an .882 save percentage.
“He’s been here all year with us, and I think he got a couple of games down in San Diego,” Ducks center Derek Grant said of Stolarz, who played three games earlier this season with the AHL’s Gulls. “He’s a tough guy to score on in practice. He works extremely hard. He’s been around the pro level for a long time and he understands what he has to do to be ready.
“He’s a light-hearted guy. He’s calm in there. He’s confident in his abilities. We have extreme confidence in him, too. He’s so relaxed before a game. I think that goes a long way for him.”