George Richards, FHN Publisher
Anthony Stolarz knows exactly what it means to be a top-end backup goalie in the NHL. That is a big reason the Florida Panthers came after him last summer.
Even though Stolarz’s season came to an early end in Anaheim, when the Panthers decided they wanted to upgrade their backup position, his name came to the top of the conversation.
And, not long after the free agent market opened on July 1, Stolarz signed a one-year deal with the Panthers.
Good move on both ends.
Stolarz, 29, has started seven games for the Panthers thus far this season and is expected to get No. 8 tonight in Calgary.
It has been over a week since he picked up his fourth win of the season in Columbus although he did get some mop-up work Thursday in Vancouver after Sergei Bobrovsky was pulled after giving up 4 goals against the Canucks.
Regardless of the situation, Stolarz is ready to go.
“You look at the way Bobby has been playing and he has been awesome,” Stolarz said after making 17 saves in a 5-2 win over the Blue Jackets.
“And as the backup, you have to know your role and you have to be ready. I enjoy that challenge, enjoy when my name gets called. When that happens, I want to perform well. The attitude does not change. When you have a competitor like Bobby on the other end of the ice, you want to match his shot-for-shot. I think that makes it a great relationship. We just feed off each other.”
The Panthers, traditionally, have had good goaltending and lately have had a fairly strong tandem in net.
When Bobrovsky signed with the Panthers in 2019, Sam Montembeault was the backup although Chris Driedger eventually took over the role.
Driedger left for the Kraken in 2021 with Spencer Knight serving as the primary backup with Alex Lyon sliding into the role last season.
Now, the job belongs to Stolarz.
“We have an awesome tandem,” Carter Verhaeghe said. “Whomever gets the nod, we’re going to play the same way.”
The Panthers have been thrilled with how he prepares and credit his work the past few seasons as the backup in Anaheim as knowing what the job entails.
When Stolarz gets into the game, the Panthers can have plenty of confidence he is going to serve them well.
Just look at his numbers.
Stolarz is 4-2-1 this season with a 2.19/.915.
The Panthers are secure that he can do the job when called upon.
So is he.
“I know this team is going to play hard at both ends of the ice and that is going to make my job that much easier,” Stolarz said. “There is not the pressure of having to make one big shot after another. The guys are going to be there, they are going to make plays. We take advantage of the other team’s mistakes. We play a hard, 200-foot game. Give our guys credit; they make my job a lot easier.”
ON DECK
FLORIDA PANTHERS @ CALGARY FLAMES
- When: Monday, 9:30 p.m.
- Where: The Saddledome; Calgary, Alberta
- TV/Streaming: Bally Sports Florida; ESPN+
- Radio: WPOW 96.5-FM2; WBZT 1230-AM (Palm Beach); WCTH 100.3-FM (Florida Keys); SiriusXM
- Panthers Radio Streaming: SiriusXM 932, NHL App
- This Series — At Calgary: Monday. At Florida: March 9.
- Last Season: Calgary Won 2-0
- All-Time Regular Season Series: Calgary leads 24-11-3, 3 ties