<p><em class="text-lg italic">Welcome back to NHL Notebook — the series here at <a class="text-accent" href="https://canucksarmy.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">CanucksArmy</a> where we deliver you news and notes from around the National Hockey League — oftentimes through a <a class="text-accent" href="https://canucksarmy.com/combinations" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Vancouver Canucks</a>-tinted lens!</em></p>
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<p>We are now into the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs, and there are several headlines coming out of it. There were physical, exciting series with two unforgettable Game 7 comebacks. While eight teams are moving on, there are eight more who are now shifting their focus to next season.</p>
<p>But today, we&#8217;ve got three big storylines about netminders. Some are still in the playoffs, and some are heading to the World Championships. It&#8217;s goalies galore for this NHL Notebook. Let&#8217;s get into it.</p>
<h1>Anthony Stolarz injured in Game 1</h1>
<p>Toronto Maple Leafs starting goalie Anthony Stolarz was injured in Game 1 of their series against the Florida Panthers.</p>
<p>Here is the play if you haven&#8217;t seen it:</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Stolarz was pulled after this collision with Bennett <a href="https://t.co/Xns4P1VzVd">https://t.co/Xns4P1VzVd</a> <a href="https://t.co/CxWuBJlFW6">pic.twitter.com/CxWuBJlFW6</a></p>
<p>&mdash; B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) <a href="https://twitter.com/BR_OpenIce/status/1919566043871060055?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 6, 2025</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>Stolarz&#8217;s former teammate, Sam Bennett, skates from behind the net to the slot area, battling for the puck. Bennett would make contact with his former teammate&#8217;s head en route and left him lying face down on the ice in evident pain. The Panthers&#8217; centreman was not penalized for this play, and the Department of Player Safety did not deem this a suspendable offence.</p>
<p>Now, this isn&#8217;t the first time Bennett has made contact with somebody&#8217;s head in the playoffs. Just last season, Bennett punched his now teammate <a href="https://canucksarmy.com/news/nhl-notebook-marchand-gets-one-year-suspension-tnt-4-nations-roster-breakdown">Brad Marchand</a> in the face coming through the neutral zone:</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">🚨 New angle just dropped of Sam Bennett punching Marchand in the face 🚨 <a href="https://t.co/fL8dNXWeR7">pic.twitter.com/fL8dNXWeR7</a></p>
<p>&mdash; Spittin&#39; Chiclets (@spittinchiclets) <a href="https://twitter.com/spittinchiclets/status/1789781605881364602?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 12, 2024</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>Marchand would miss Games 4 and 5, but did return for Game 6, in which the Boston Bruins lost and were eliminated.</p>
<p>Toronto&#8217;s starting netminder would continue the game for the following 10 minutes before going to the bench during a TV timeout. Reportedly, Stolarz would throw up on the bench and was pulled from the game. Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube was non-committal on the status of his goalie after the game. However, reports indicated that Stolarz left the arena on a stretcher and was taken to the hospital.</p>
<p>Joseph Woll came in relief for Stolarz, and despite allowing three third period goals, was able to do enough to ensure the Maple Leafs victory.</p>
<p>Stolarz did not dress for Game 2, and Berube gave no timeline on his return. We will have to wait and see when he returns, but it appears that it is Woll&#8217;s crease to run with, holding a 2-0 series lead over the Panthers.</p>
<h1>Marc-Andre Fleury retirement tour</h1>
<p>After 22 seasons in the NHL, Marc-Andre Fleury announced his retirement earlier in the 2024-2025 season. Fleury suited up in 1,051 NHL games, finishing with a 575-339-95 record with a career 2.60 goals against average and a .912 save percentage with 76 shutouts. His 575 wins are good for the second-most in NHL history, still trailing only Martin Brodeur by 116.</p>
<p>The 2003 first-overall pick added some NHL hardware to his shelves, winning the Vezina trophy (best goaltender in the regular season) and William M. Jennings trophy (goaltender with the fewest goals against (min. 25 games) during the regular season) in 2021. Not to mention his three Stanley Cups in 2009, 2016 and 2017.</p>
<p>But just when you think he&#8217;s done. Think again.</p>
<p>In his end-of-season media availability, Fleury announced that he would be joining Team Canada for the World Championships in Sweden. And of course, the known jokester had to have some fun with the media:</p>
<blockquote><p>&#8220;After we lost that night, I was like, &#8216;Yeah, screw it. I&#8217;m done.&#8217; And then, a couple days go by, and I was like, &#8216;Yeah, I think that would be pretty cool.&#8217; I went home, and my kids were [going] crazy, and I was like, &#8216;Geeze, I&#8217;ve got to keep playing.'&#8221;</p></blockquote>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">You really thought he was done&#8230;Flower is joining Team Canada for the World Championship 🌸 🇨🇦 <a href="https://t.co/5aelPR7yQ4">pic.twitter.com/5aelPR7yQ4</a></p>
<p>&mdash; Minnesota Wild (@mnwild) <a href="https://twitter.com/mnwild/status/1919453624435941377?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 5, 2025</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>For such a decorated goaltender, this will be Fleury&#8217;s first time representing Team Canada at this tournament. He will also join long-time Pittsburgh Penguin teammate Sidney Crosby in Sweden. After spending time with the Penguins, Vegas Golden Knights, Chicago Blackhawks and Minnesota Wild, he will finish his professional hockey career wearing the Canadian sweater.</p>
<h1>Frederik Andersen extension</h1>
<p>The Carolina Hurricanes have extended goaltender Frederik Andersen to a one-year, $2.75 million extension, with a possibility of earning up to $3.5 million with <a href="https://canucksarmy.com/news/carolina-hurricanes-set-interesting-new-nhl-contract-precedent-vancouver-canucks-should-look-employ">special performance bonuses</a>. Andersen will earn $250k for each of these milestones hit: 35+ games played, 40+ games played, and if the Hurricanes reach the Eastern Conference Finals next season and he plays at least half of their playoff games.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">The <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Canes?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Canes</a> have inked goaltender Freddie Andersen to a one-year contract extension ✍️</p>
<p>Details » <a href="https://t.co/VcUeoK3aWr">https://t.co/VcUeoK3aWr</a> <a href="https://t.co/mKwp9WFRHR">pic.twitter.com/mKwp9WFRHR</a></p>
<p>&mdash; Carolina Hurricanes (@Canes) <a href="https://twitter.com/Canes/status/1918765350721556766?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 3, 2025</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>Hurricanes general manager Eric Tulsky released this statement following the extension:</p>
<blockquote><p>“Frederik has played extremely well for us and ranks in the top 10 all-time for winning percentage by an NHL goalie. We’re excited that he will be staying with the team for next season.&#8221;</p></blockquote>
<p>Andersen has struggled with health throughout his tenure in Carolina. His first year, he played 51 games, but has yet to play 35 games in a single season since then, and has started under 25 games in the previous two years.</p>
<p>But when he does play, Andersen produces. He holds an 82-35-5 record with nine shutouts. Andersen also holds the franchise record in both goals against average (2.17) and save percentage (.915%).</p>
<p>Why this matters to Canucks fans, is that earlier this season, goaltender Thatcher Demko had been linked to the Hurricanes in a potential trade.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Woodley said the goalie coaching community reached out and said Demko&#39;s name is out there on the trade market. His name has been part of the conversations particularly with Carolina.</p>
<p>(Canucks Talk)</p>
<p>&mdash; Taj (@taj1944) <a href="https://twitter.com/taj1944/status/1882923934989058177?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 24, 2025</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>Present day, this may not matter. Andersen now extends in Carolina – plus, Kochetkov has two years remaining on his contract at $2 million – and both Demko and the Canucks voiced their desire to extend. But if they can&#8217;t reach an agreement, the Hurricanes may no longer be on the radar for the likes of Demko.</p>
<p>But then again, it&#8217;s only a one-year deal. And as we saw with the Hurricanes moving on from Rantanen so quickly, they aren&#8217;t afraid to fix mistakes with big moves if Andersen can&#8217;t remain healthy.</p>
<h2><a href="https://canucksarmy.com/news/farmies-kirill-kudryavtsev-scores-first-playoff-goal-abbotsford-canucks-game-three-win-coachella-valley">READ NEXT: The Farmies: Kirill Kudryavtsev scores first playoff goal in Abby Canucks’ Game Three win against Coachella Valley</a></h2>
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<em class="text-lg italic">Welcome back to NHL Notebook — the series here at <a class="text-accent" href="https://canucksarmy.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">CanucksArmy</a> where we deliver you news and notes from around the National Hockey League — oftentimes through a <a class="text-accent" href="https://canucksarmy.com/combinations" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Vancouver Canucks</a>-tinted lens!</em>
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&nbsp;

We are now into the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs, and there are several headlines coming out of it. There were physical, exciting series with two unforgettable Game 7 comebacks. While eight teams are moving on, there are eight more who are now shifting their focus to next season.

But today, we've got three big storylines about netminders. Some are still in the playoffs, and some are heading to the World Championships. It's goalies galore for this NHL Notebook. Let's get into it.
<h1>Anthony Stolarz injured in Game 1</h1>
Toronto Maple Leafs starting goalie Anthony Stolarz was injured in Game 1 of their series against the Florida Panthers.

Here is the play if you haven't seen it:

https://twitter.com/BR_OpenIce/status/1919566043871060055

Stolarz's former teammate, Sam Bennett, skates from behind the net to the slot area, battling for the puck. Bennett would make contact with his former teammate's head en route and left him lying face down on the ice in evident pain. The Panthers' centreman was not penalized for this play, and the Department of Player Safety did not deem this a suspendable offence.

Now, this isn't the first time Bennett has made contact with somebody's head in the playoffs. Just last season, Bennett punched his now teammate <a href="https://canucksarmy.com/news/nhl-notebook-marchand-gets-one-year-suspension-tnt-4-nations-roster-breakdown">Brad Marchand</a> in the face coming through the neutral zone:

https://twitter.com/spittinchiclets/status/1789781605881364602

Marchand would miss Games 4 and 5, but did return for Game 6, in which the Boston Bruins lost and were eliminated.

Toronto's starting netminder would continue the game for the following 10 minutes before going to the bench during a TV timeout. Reportedly, Stolarz would throw up on the bench and was pulled from the game. Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube was non-committal on the status of his goalie after the game. However, reports indicated that Stolarz left the arena on a stretcher and was taken to the hospital.

Joseph Woll came in relief for Stolarz, and despite allowing three third period goals, was able to do enough to ensure the Maple Leafs victory.

Stolarz did not dress for Game 2, and Berube gave no timeline on his return. We will have to wait and see when he returns, but it appears that it is Woll's crease to run with, holding a 2-0 series lead over the Panthers.
<h1>Marc-Andre Fleury retirement tour</h1>
After 22 seasons in the NHL, Marc-Andre Fleury announced his retirement earlier in the 2024-2025 season. Fleury suited up in 1,051 NHL games, finishing with a 575-339-95 record with a career 2.60 goals against average and a .912 save percentage with 76 shutouts. His 575 wins are good for the second-most in NHL history, still trailing only Martin Brodeur by 116.

The 2003 first-overall pick added some NHL hardware to his shelves, winning the Vezina trophy (best goaltender in the regular season) and William M. Jennings trophy (goaltender with the fewest goals against (min. 25 games) during the regular season) in 2021. Not to mention his three Stanley Cups in 2009, 2016 and 2017.

But just when you think he's done. Think again.

In his end-of-season media availability, Fleury announced that he would be joining Team Canada for the World Championships in Sweden. And of course, the known jokester had to have some fun with the media:
<blockquote>"After we lost that night, I was like, 'Yeah, screw it. I'm done.' And then, a couple days go by, and I was like, 'Yeah, I think that would be pretty cool.' I went home, and my kids were [going] crazy, and I was like, 'Geeze, I've got to keep playing.'"</blockquote>
https://twitter.com/mnwild/status/1919453624435941377

For such a decorated goaltender, this will be Fleury's first time representing Team Canada at this tournament. He will also join long-time Pittsburgh Penguin teammate Sidney Crosby in Sweden. After spending time with the Penguins, Vegas Golden Knights, Chicago Blackhawks and Minnesota Wild, he will finish his professional hockey career wearing the Canadian sweater.
<h1>Frederik Andersen extension</h1>
The Carolina Hurricanes have extended goaltender Frederik Andersen to a one-year, $2.75 million extension, with a possibility of earning up to $3.5 million with <a href="https://canucksarmy.com/news/carolina-hurricanes-set-interesting-new-nhl-contract-precedent-vancouver-canucks-should-look-employ">special performance bonuses</a>. Andersen will earn $250k for each of these milestones hit: 35+ games played, 40+ games played, and if the Hurricanes reach the Eastern Conference Finals next season and he plays at least half of their playoff games.

https://twitter.com/Canes/status/1918765350721556766

Hurricanes general manager Eric Tulsky released this statement following the extension:
<blockquote>“Frederik has played extremely well for us and ranks in the top 10 all-time for winning percentage by an NHL goalie. We’re excited that he will be staying with the team for next season."</blockquote>
Andersen has struggled with health throughout his tenure in Carolina. His first year, he played 51 games, but has yet to play 35 games in a single season since then, and has started under 25 games in the previous two years.

But when he does play, Andersen produces. He holds an 82-35-5 record with nine shutouts. Andersen also holds the franchise record in both goals against average (2.17) and save percentage (.915%).

Why this matters to Canucks fans, is that earlier this season, goaltender Thatcher Demko had been linked to the Hurricanes in a potential trade.

https://twitter.com/taj1944/status/1882923934989058177

Present day, this may not matter. Andersen now extends in Carolina – plus, Kochetkov has two years remaining on his contract at $2 million – and both Demko and the Canucks voiced their desire to extend. But if they can't reach an agreement, the Hurricanes may no longer be on the radar for the likes of Demko.

But then again, it's only a one-year deal. And as we saw with the Hurricanes moving on from Rantanen so quickly, they aren't afraid to fix mistakes with big moves if Andersen can't remain healthy.
<h2><a href="https://canucksarmy.com/news/farmies-kirill-kudryavtsev-scores-first-playoff-goal-abbotsford-canucks-game-three-win-coachella-valley">READ NEXT: The Farmies: Kirill Kudryavtsev scores first playoff goal in Abby Canucks’ Game Three win against Coachella Valley</a></h2>
<strong>Sponsored by bet365</strong>
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