Garret Sparks became the first Maple Leafs goalie with a shutout in his NHL debut, lifting Toronto over the visiting Edmonton Oilers 3-0 on Monday night.
“They’ve been playing hockey here a long time, so I think that’s pretty cool,” said Sparks, 22, who was visibly emotional after being named the game’s first star with his parents watching from the crowd.
Sparks made 24 saves in the Leafs’ first shutout since Jonathan Bernier blanked the Dallas Stars last Dec. 23.
“Good for the kid,” Leafs coach Mike Babcock said.