Garret Sparks, Maple Leafs blank Oilers 3-0

The 22-year-old became the first Maple Leafs goalie with a shutout in his National Hockey League debut, lifting Toronto over the Edmonton Oilers 3-0 on Monday night.

Toronto Maple Leafs starting goaltender Garret Sparks, left, skates past fellow goaltender Jonathan Bernier, right, during a timeout during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Edmonton Oilers in Toronto, Monday, Nov. 30, 2015.

Center Leo Komarov scored twice, including one into an empty net, and center Nazem Kadri added a goal for the Maple Leafs (8-11-5). He chipped in a pass into the slot from van Riemsdyk for his career-best ninth goal of the season with Oilers center Leon Draisaitl serving a hooking penalty.

“We had to make a lot of sacrifices just to get me through minor hockey and there’s been bumps and bruises along the way”, Sparks said.

ABOUT THE MAPLE LEAFS (7-11-5): Captain Dion Phaneuf recorded a season-high seven shots in Saturday’s 4-2 loss to Washington and has registered three assists in his last two games, tying Tyler Bozak for the team lead with 14 points.

Both teams had only one shot apiece through the first 10 minutes of the game. The Maple Leafs were playing a tight defensive game but Oilers defenseman Justin Schultz snuck up to find an opening only to ring a shot off the post with 13 minutes to play in the second period.

The Leafs had an opportunity to double their lead with back-to-back power-play chances in the second, but were unable to do so.

Draisaitl burned Matt Hunwick 1-on-1 late in the second off the rush to create a great scoring chance.

“Going into the third period (a shutout) is definitely on your mind”, said Sparks. “You just want to be on and make sure if they’re going to beat you they have to really beat you”. The guys in front of me kept everything to the outside and kept everything manageable. Edmonton led 8-3 heading into first intermission, but Toronto put on pressure in the second to even the shots 16-16 after two periods. His goals-against average is now 2.70 and his save percentage is.911.

Jake Gardiner floated the puck at the net from the blue line and Kadri deflected it down past Nilsson for his third of the season.