{"id":271573,"date":"2025-11-09T06:50:09","date_gmt":"2025-11-09T06:50:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/271573\/"},"modified":"2025-11-09T06:50:09","modified_gmt":"2025-11-09T06:50:09","slug":"maple-leafs-take-issue-with-zadorovs-hit-on-laughton","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/271573\/","title":{"rendered":"Maple Leafs take issue with Zadorov\u2019s\u00a0hit on Laughton"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Boston Bruins<\/a> beat the Toronto Maple Leafs<\/a> 5-3 at Scotiabank Arena on Saturday. <\/p>\n

—<\/p>\n

Leafs centre Scott Laughton<\/a> left Saturday night\u2019s game after taking a bit hit from Bruins defenceman Nikita Zadorov<\/a> in the second period. <\/p>\n

Craig Berube on the Nikita Zadorov hit that knocked Scott Laughton from tonight’s game:<\/p>\n

“I thought it was a head shot. I gotta take a closer look at it”@TSN_Sports<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Mark Masters (@markhmasters) November 9, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cI thought it was a head shot,\u201d coach Craig Berube<\/a> said following Toronto\u2019s 5-3 loss at Scotiabank Arena. \u201cI gotta take a closer look at it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Laughton will miss Sunday\u2019s game against the Carolina Hurricanes<\/a>, but Berube is unsure of the timeline beyond that. <\/p>\n

Bobby McMann<\/a> confronted Zadorov after the hit. <\/p>\n

\u201cI didn\u2019t really see the whole thing,\u201d the Leafs winger said. \u201cJust kind of caught it out of the corner of my eye. Didn\u2019t really love the hit from what I saw and wanted to make sure he knew I didn\u2019t like it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI didn\u2019t see it, to be honest, super clean,\u201d said centre John Tavares<\/a>. \u201cBut don\u2019t like anything high that\u2019s for sure and I know our bench didn\u2019t like it. Not an easy thing by Bobby to get in there and step up for Laughty so that was a hell of a job by him.\u201d <\/p>\n

Laughton, who sustained a lower-body injury during training camp, just made his regular season debut on Wednesday. <\/p>\n

The Leafs and Bruins will play again on Tuesday in Boston. <\/p>\n

—<\/p>\n

Anthony Stolarz<\/a> allowed four goals on 19 shots before being pulled early in the second period. The Bruins scored on their first two shots of the game. <\/p>\n

\u201cFirst and foremost I gotta bear down and make a save,\u201d Stolarz said. \u201cI mean, giving up the first two shots [is] not a good way to start the game.\u201d<\/p>\n

Stolarz apologized to Dennis Hildeby<\/a> at the bench before the 24-year-old, who was called up from the American Hockey League earlier in the day, entered the game. <\/p>\n

\u201cHe was awesome,\u201d said Stolarz. \u201cI mean, I put him in a s\u2014t situation, but he came in and handled it like a true pro and played well.\u201d<\/p>\n

Saturday marked the first time that Stolarz has been pulled due to performance since joining the Leafs last season. <\/p>\n

\u201cOnce Dennis went in, it gave up a little spark,\u201d Stolarz said. \u201cIt was the right move.\u201d<\/p>\n

Stolarz has an .889 save percentage through 12 starts this season. <\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s a lot of good, but I think [he\u2019s] inconsistent like our team,\u201d said Berube. \u201cThat\u2019s what I see.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s obviously not up to par,\u201d Stolarz said of his play. \u201cI mean, it seems like every night I\u2019m giving up one or two you want back. But, for me, it\u2019s just [the] life of a goalie. Just have to put it behind you and focus on the next game and hopefully get back in practice, work on a few things, and tighten it up.\u201d<\/p>\n

Stolarz led the league with a .926 save percentage last season, but only started 33 games, which was a career high. With Joseph Woll<\/a> missing the start of the season for personal reasons, the Leafs have leaned on Stolarz more than anticipated. <\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s part of it for sure,\u201d Berube acknowledged. \u201cBut it is what it is right now.\u201d<\/p>\n

Stolarz, who missed Tuesday\u2019s practice for maintenance, insists that his body is feeling fine. <\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s what I trained for this summer,\u201d Stolarz said. \u201cSome bad bounces. Just some little technical things that you look at. You look at the third one [by Michael Eyssimont<\/a>] just lifting that pad up for half a second, the puck goes under it, so for me it\u2019s going back to basics and just trying to regroup and find my game.”<\/p>\n

Berube also believes the team\u2019s dip in defensive play is part of the reason why the goaltending isn\u2019t as strong to start the season. <\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s good stretches of it, but not enough,\u201d the coach said. \u201cLike, you know, the last goal [by Fraser Minten<\/a>] is just a turnover. I mean, I don\u2019t know what you want the goalie to do in that play.”<\/p>\n

Berube is unsure who will start Sunday\u2019s game against the Hurricanes. <\/p>\n

—<\/p>\n

Hildeby made his first NHL appearance since Jan. 22. <\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a little nerve wracking to begin with,\u201d the 6-foot-7 Swede said. \u201cI had to battle with my breathing there and all that, but once I got into it I had a lot of fun. I felt good.\u201d<\/p>\n

How did Hildeby calm down? <\/p>\n

\u201cBreathing and just your inner dialogue,\u201d he said. \u201cJust stay positive and try and focus on actually enjoying it. It\u2019s the NHL we\u2019re talking about. But breathing most of all.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hildeby stopped 19 of 20 shots. <\/p>\n

\u201cI thought I kept it simple,\u201d Hildeby said. \u201cPlayed to my strength and then stuck to the game plan we worked on through training camp and the beginning of the season.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hildeby had a sense he would be called up when the team flew him home from a Marlies road trip on Friday. <\/p>\n

\u201cHe looked solid,\u201d Berube said. \u201cHe was pretty calm in there and made the saves. I thought we defended better down the stretch like, you know, giving them the bad angle shots and things like that but he was fine for me. He looked good.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hildeby is 2-2-1 with an .890 save percentage with the Marlies so far this season. <\/p>\n

—<\/p>\n

Woll started an American Hockey League conditioning stint on Saturday. He allowed three goals on 24 shots while playing 36 minutes for the Toronto Marlies during a game against Lehigh Valley. <\/p>\n

Game Highlights | Nov. 8, 2025 at Lehigh Valley <\/p>\n

Toronto (2) vs. Lehigh Valley (3)
Goals: Borya Valis, Bo Groulx
Goaltender: Joseph Woll (21 saves, L) Vyacheslav Peksa (12 saves)https:\/\/t.co\/dtmqJS1tI5<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Toronto Marlies PR (@AHLMarliesPR) November 9, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n

With Woll away to start the year, the Leafs claimed Cayden Primeau<\/a> off waivers from the Hurricanes at the end of training camp. Primeau won two of three starts, but posted an ugly .838 save percentage. The Leafs put Primeau back on waivers on Friday and he was reclaimed by the Hurricanes. <\/p>\n

Woll thanks Leafs for support in address to media; wants to focus on present Joseph Woll will start a conditioning stint in the American Hockey League this weekend and on Friday, he broke his silence, speaking to reporters for the first time since rejoining the team. Mark Masters has more in this report. <\/p>\n

—<\/p>\n

The Leafs will not hold a morning skate on Sunday. The team\u2019s next media availability will be at 4:45 pm.<\/p>\n