Woll begins AHL conditioning stint before Maple Leafs return

TORONTO -- Joseph Woll has taken the next step in his return to the Toronto Maple Leafs by starting an American Hockey League conditioning stint.

The goalie, who returned to the team Oct. 24 after taking month-long leave of absence to attend to a personal family matter, started for the Toronto Marlies on Saturday, allowing three goals on 24 shots in a 3-2 loss at the Lehigh Valley Phantoms.

Woll played 36:09 before exiting the game. The Marlies play again Wednesday at Grand Rapids.

"I think pace, I've found that is something that is important to get up, especially if you are coming off an offseason," Woll said Friday. "So pace is a big one, and then I just think there is an eagerness to get back out there. I've had enough idle time sitting around. Don't want to be practicing too long, just want to get out and get going."

Woll left the Maple Leafs on Sept. 23. He has skated periodically while away from the team and has been participating in practices to varying degrees the past two weeks. On Friday, Woll worked as the second goalie along with Anthony Stolarz, while Cayden Primeau, who served as the backup goalie while Woll was away, skated on a separate ice pad with goalie coach Curtis Sanford.

Primeau was claimed off waivers by the Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday. Dennis Hildeby was recalled from the Marlies and relieved Stolarz in the second period of a 5-3 loss to the Boston Bruins. Stolarz allowed four goals on 19 shots.

"(Woll) is fine. He really hasn’t had that much (practice time)," coach Craig Berube said. "He's getting work, which is good. He's going to go down and play some Marlies (games) here, which will be really good for him to get into action. That's where I think he will start making some real strides getting in games. … I wanted Woll to have the whole net today."

As for the reasons pertaining to his leave of absence, Woll declined to get into specifics, instead saying that he wants to focus on moving forward.

"I've kind of decided that all I'm going to say about my time away is that I'm disappointed to have missed time and I'm very happy to be back, so I'd really like all the focus to be on my job to do here," he said. "I don't want to create new distractions for myself or the team. There is enough here to focus on and all I ask is that you guys respect that. And if down the road I am interested and think it would be beneficial to talk about that, I'll initiate that."

He made a point of thanking Maple Leafs management, including general manager Brad Treliving, and his teammates as well as the media for granting him the privacy he requested at the outset of his leave.

"(Our team), is a great group of guys," Woll said. "We've added some new guys. I'm still working on building my relationships with them, but the bulk of this team has been around for a little while so if anything, it just helps bring people closer together.

"Just being back in this environment has been nice to see my teammates. To be back in Toronto, to watch us play, to watch the Blue Jays play, it's good to be back here."

Stolarz has started 12 of the Maple Leafs' 16 games, going 6-5-1 with a 3.35 goals-against average and .889 save percentage. Last season, Woll started 41 games during the regular season; Stolarz started 33.

"I appreciate the work he's done," Woll said of Stolarz. "Been great for our team carrying the load like that. That's not an easy thing to do, not an easy thing at all. He’s been awesome, he’s handled it great."

Not that he has minded the increased amount of playing time, but Stolarz said he is happy to see Woll getting closer to playing NHL games.

"It’s exciting for sure. It's great to have him back," Stolarz said. "I've said before, we have an unbelievable relationship, so just to have him around again, that competitive nature he brings to our team, his high energy, it's nice to have him back in the room. As a goalie you are always supporting each other so I think to have him back is huge not just for the team but for me as well."