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Scenes from Leafs’ morning skate: Hildeby to backup Stolarz, Carlo eager to face old team, Tanev resumes skating

Photo credit: Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images
Nov 8, 2025, 11:31 ESTUpdated: Nov 8, 2025, 11:30 EST
Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Anthony Stolarz will start Saturday’s game against the Boston Bruins, while Dennis Hildeby will serve as the backup, head coach Craig Berube confirmed.
Stolarz will be making his 12 start of the season, posting a 6-4-1 record to begin the year, along with a .895 save percentage. Hildeby will operate as the backup and will likely start Sunday’s game against the Carolina Hurricanes. Joseph Woll has returned to the team and is an option for the AHL’s Toronto Marlies during Saturday’s game against the Lehigh Valley Phantoms.
Brandon Carlo will be facing off against his former team, and spoke about the culture and camaraderie the Bruins developed during his tenure. Carlo has close ties to the Bruins, but he reinforced that his competitiveness will take over before the puck drops.
“I had dinner with six or seven guys, it was great to see them, nice to catch up,” Carlo said Saturday morning. “They got some new things going on with their group, I got a little insight to what it’s like behind enemy lines. It’s been good to see everybody, obviously, those friendships will last a lifetime.”
Chris Tanev resumed skating in an individual session prior to Saturday’s optional morning skate. Tanev was discharged from hospital on November 3, after suffering a concussion against the Philadelphia Flyers. There is no timeline for Tanev’s return, but Berube noted it was the first time he skated since sustaining the injury.
“He’s doing well. Every time I’ve talked to him since, he’s seemed like just himself,” Carlo said about Tanev. “That’s what you like to see. He’s got bright eyes and a bushy tail in the morning. He’s a great player, he’s a huge part of this group, obviously he wants to be on the ice. First and foremost, we care most about the human being but I’ve been happy to see how he’s been looking in the morning, he’s not looking down or anything like that. He looks great.”
Maple Leafs’ projected lines vs. Bruins
Matthew Knies-Auston Matthews-William Nylander
Nick Robertson-John Tavares-Bobby McMann
Dakota Joshua-Nicolas Roy-Matias Maccelli
Steven Lorentz-Scott Laughton-Max Domi
Morgan Rielly-Brandon Carlo
Oliver Ekman-Larsson-Jake McCabe
Simon Benoit-Philippe Myers
Anthony Stolarz (confirmed starter)
Dennis Hildeby
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