Max Domi reserves special praise for Maple Leafs goaltender, likens him to Habs legend Carey Price

By Abhilasha Aditi

Modified Oct 24, 2023 14:39 GMT

Recently on Saturday night in Tampa, Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Joseph Woll was thrust into the spotlight in a dramatic turnaround for the Maple Leafs. The team found themselves down 3-1 on the road against the formidable Tampa Bay Lightning, who were on a quest for revenge and ruthless on the power play.

Ilya Samsonov, Toronto's de facto No. 1 goaltender, was struggling against a fierce assault led by fellow countryman Nikita Kucherov.

Samsonov allowed three goals on four shots, and his four-game save percentage plummeted to .831. Head coach Sheldon Keefe made the decision to put Woll in the game.

Coming in cold, Woll focused on one thought:

"Let's dial it in and go stop the puck."

And that's precisely what he did, turning aside 29 shots with a perfect blank-sheet relief effort that led the Toronto Maple Leafs to a stunning 4-3 comeback victory in overtime.

Woll's performance led Max Domi, a former teammate of Montreal Canadiens legend Carey Price, to draw a comparison between Woll and Price. Max Domi said,

"He really kind of reminds me of Carey Price, his demeanor. He's very calm and relaxed, both on and off the ice. Big body. Moves really technically sound. I'm not a goalie coach by any means, but he's outstanding."

Domi further said,

"He's great, man. He's very similar to Pricer. He's just super low-key, super humble, and just wants to do his job and be a great teammate and have fun,"

While it's still early in the season, Woll's impressive showing has not gone unnoticed. He boasts a save percentage of .949 and a goals-against average of 1.69, with a perfect 12-for-12 record on high-danger chances.

Maple Leafs' coach Keefe on Joseph Woll

Sheldon Keefe commended Woll's performance and noted that he's pushing to earn more playing time. Keefe said,

"Outstanding. These are not easy times, right? To come into a game like [Saturday's], and really there's no margin for error. For him to stand his ground the way he did was great."

"He took advantage of every practice shot and rep that he had all week and looked great. I think that kind of sent a message to the group that he's hungry. And because of that work, he was ready for [Tampa], even though he wasn't supposed to play. So, that's a great sign for a young player. Really happy for him."

The competition between Woll and Samsonov is heating up, and it's clear that Woll is eager to seize the opportunity to become the Maple Leafs' go-to goaltender.