Toronto's Early Goaltending Returns Look Strong
Toronto's new goaltending tandem of Sergei Bobrovsky and Anthony Stolarz has performed well in the opening games of the 2026-27 season. As of Oct. 11, the Maple Leafs ranked second in the NHL with plus-6.2 goals saved above expected, behind only the Rangers. Bobrovsky has not earned a win in his first three starts, but his underlying metrics suggest he has played better than his traditional stats show.
Toronto's early 2026-27 results place its goaltending pair among the league's best by goals saved above expected. Through Oct. 11, the Maple Leafs sat second at plus-6.2, trailing only the Rangers at plus-6.8. Bobrovsky had no wins in his first three appearances, yet his broader numbers pointed to stronger play than his record suggested.
By his fourth outing, Bobrovsky owned a 1-2-1 mark, a .907 save rate, a 2.97 goals-against average, and 12 goals allowed. His plus-4.7 GSAx ranked seventh leaguewide. Stolarz posted a 0.26 GSAx across two games, with a 2.44 GAA and .904 save percentage, as NHL save percentage sat at .891.
Strong early goaltending could shape how Toronto fans and media perceive the season, easing pressure on the club and boosting optimism. It may also affect player confidence and roster decisions, while giving opponents a tougher challenge. Because the sample is small, these effects could fade if performance regresses.