Maple Leafs recall goaltender Joseph Woll from conditioning loan with AHL’s Marlies

It is looking like one of the top goaltenders for the Toronto Maple Leafs might be close to returning to action with the big club.

On Monday, the team announced that Joseph Woll is being called up back up to the NHL roster after a conditioning stint with their American Hockey League affiliate, the Toronto Marlies.

Woll played just one game with the Marlies, and it was safe to say there was little rust on the 25-year-old. Woll stopped 37 of the 38 shots he faced against Laval Rocket last Friday, helping the Marlies pick up a 4-1 win. It was his first appearance in the minors since the AHL Playoffs last spring.

It was Woll’s first game action since leaving the ice on Dec. 7 against the Ottawa Senators with a high-ankle sprain. The Dardenne Prairie, Missouri native rejoined the Leafs in practice earlier this month, and might finally be closing in on getting back into the lineup.

Prior to the injury, Woll had taken over the No. 1 job in Toronto, sitting with an 8-5-1 record, with a 2.80 goals-against average and .916 save percentage. Now, with how Ilya Samsonov has returned to form, and Martin Jones looking like a capable backup, the Leafs are quickly full in the net. Jones is certainly the odd man out in this scenario, but that means, unless Toronto wants to roster three goaltenders, Jones will have to clear waivers in order to stay with the organization and play with the Marlies.

The Leafs (33-16-8) have been playing well in Woll’s absence, going 20-10-4, and moving back up into the top three of the Atlantic Division. As of Monday, Toronto is four points ahead of the fourth-place Detroit Red Wings, but seven back of the Boston Bruins for the top spot in the division.