The Toronto Maple Leafs have finally settled the long-standing debate regarding who will take the net in Game 1 of the playoffs. With just two weeks remaining in the regular season, Anthony Stolarz has been named the starting goalie for the postseason, marking his first playoff appearance in the NHL.

Despite a rocky stretch in March, where Stolarz suffered four consecutive losses and Joseph Woll seemed to surge with impressive victories, Stolarz has made a remarkable comeback. He’s currently on a hot streak, boasting a perfect record of 5-0-0 in his last five games, including a memorable shutout against the high-scoring Columbus Blue Jackets and key wins over the Florida Panthers and Los Angeles Kings. His save percentage is a stellar .944, and statistically, he has outperformed Woll in virtually every metric.

Stolarz has recorded 0.79 goals saved above expected per 60 minutes this season compared to Woll's 0.35. While Woll has played more games, exhibiting a save percentage of .902 since January 1st, Stolarz's performance, particularly in crucial moments, has made it abundantly clear that he has established himself as the go-to option for the Leafs.

Interestingly, Stolarz's absence due to a knee injury, which kept him out for 24 games earlier in the season, inadvertently worked to his advantage, refining his performance and minimizing his regular-season workload.

While Woll does have playoff experience, having started games in the previous two postseasons, it pales in comparison to Stolarz's current level of play, making it unlikely the situation will reverse before Game 1 unless unforeseen circumstances arise.

As the Leafs prepare for the playoffs, it's critical to note that Stolarz won't have the luxury of experienced playoff goalies as opponents. He will be facing seasoned players like Andrei Vasilevskiy, who has 110 playoff starts, and others like Sergei Bobrovsky and Linus Ullmark.

Moreover, the team has noticeable shifts in other areas as well, particularly with key players like Nick Robertson and John Tavares stepping up. Robertson has scored 12 goals at even strength in a significantly shorter ice time than stars like Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner, proving his potential to contribute when needed. Additionally, Tavares is enjoying a career-high in empty-net goals under new coach Craig Berube, who has also trusted him in crucial late-game situations due, in part, to his faceoff prowess.

As anticipation builds for the upcoming playoffs, another exciting matchup to keep tabs on is the comparison between Auston Matthews and Alex Ovechkin. Matthews, with 398 goals in his first 623 games, is on the verge of achieving remarkable career milestones, although overshadowed by Ovechkin's legacy. There's the question of whether Matthews can challenge Ovechkin's long-standing goal record in the future, given the latter's incredible durability and consistency compared to Matthews, who has had his fair share of injuries.

With the first game of the playoffs on the horizon, the Maple Leafs’ focus will be sharp as they aim to make a significant postseason run. The decision to label Stolarz as the starter has certainly stirred the pot, but if he can translate his regular-season brilliance into playoff performances, the Leafs may just have the solid goaltending they need to advance deep into the playoffs.