The Toronto Maple Leafs placed goaltender Anthony Stolarz on injured reserve Sunday, prior to their 5-3 win over the Buffalo Sabres.
Stolarz sustained a lower-body injury in the first period of the Maple Leafs' 3-2 win over the Anaheim Ducks on Thursday. He sat out Toronto's 4-2 loss to the Detroit Red Wings on Saturday before the team made the roster decision.
By virtue of Sunday's move, Stolarz also must sit out Toronto's road game against the Dallas Stars on Wednesday. He is eligible to return Friday against the Sabres.
In his absence, Dennis Hildeby made 24 saves in his third career NHL start after being recalled from the American Hockey League, as the Maple Leafs handed the Sabres their 10th straight loss. John Tavares scored twice as part of a second-period outburst and added an empty netter for his 14th career hat trick in Toronto's win.
The Maple Leafs will also rely on goaltender Joseph Woll during the absence of Stolarz, 30, who is 9-5-2 with a 2.15 goals-against average and .927 save percentage in 17 games this season.
Stolarz, who won the Stanley Cup in June with the Florida Panthers, is 52-36-11 with a 2.61 GAA and .916 SP in 125 career games (100 starts). He has played for the Philadelphia Flyers, Edmonton Oilers, Ducks, Panthers and Maple Leafs.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
