Anthony Stolarz wants to return to the NHL the way he left it nearly seven weeks ago: on top. Ideally, the Maple Leafs goalie will be back before the 4 Nations Face-Off break.

Anthony Stolarz participated in his first full practice for the Maple Leafs on Tuesday since having a knee procedure Dec. 18. The goalie has missed the past 21 games after sustaining the injury in a 3-2 win against the Anaheim Ducks on Dec. 12.

Anthony Stolarz’s recovery from knee surgery is progressing, with NHL insider Darren Dreger providing an encouraging update on the Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender. Stolarz, who last played on Dec. 12 against his former team, the Anaheim Ducks, underwent a procedure to remove a loose body from his knee and has been sidelined for more than a month.

Stolarz underwent knee surgery to remove a "loose body" on Dec. 18 and participated in a full practice for the first time since on Tuesday.

Anthony Stolarz is happy to be back practicing with the Toronto Maple Leafs after being out for nearly seven weeks due to a knee injury. Stolarz has been a key player for the Maple Leafs this season.

The Toronto Maple Leafs could be getting a key reinforcement in net soon, as goaltender Anthony Stolarz took the ice and completed a full practice Tuesday for the first time since undergoing knee surgery in December.

The Maple Leafs placed goaltender Anthony Stolarz on LTIR on Saturday, but there's no reason to panic as the move appears to merely be a paper transaction.

Stolarz, who won the Stanley Cup with the Florida Panthers in June as Sergei Bobrovsky’s backup, had a 9-5-2 record, 2.15 goals-against average, .927 save percentage and one shutout before undergoing surgery — there was no structural damage found — to deal with a loose piece of cartilage or bone in his knee.

Without the former Panther, the Leafs have relied on Dennis Hildeby and Matt Murray to occupy the backup role. Murray allowed seven goals across two starts, while Hildeby posted an .878 save percentage and 3.32 GAA in six starts this season.

Stolarz was a full participant in Leafs practice at the Ford Performance Centre for the first time since he had a knee procedure done on Dec. 18 in New York. He hasn’t played since Dec. 12, when he departed the home game against the Anaheim Ducks after the first period.