Kallgren to start vs. Hurricanes on Thursday

Erik Kallgren will start in net on Thursday against the Carolina Hurricanes, head coach Sheldon Keefe confirmed on Wednesday. 

Erik Kallgren will start again tomorrow against the Hurricanes, coach Sheldon Keefe confirms @TSN_Edge

The 25-year-old rookie made 35 saves in his first NHL start Tuesday in the Toronto Maple Leafs' 4-0 blanking of the Dallas Stars.

Kallgren, who made seven saves in relief of Petr Mrazek in Thursday's 5-4 shootout loss to the Arizona Coyotes in his NHL debut, is the fourth Leafs goalie – and first since Garret Sparks in November 2015 – to record a shutout in his first NHL start.

"Just tried to not think too much," said Kallgren, who was greeted with a water-bottle shower from teammates in Toronto's locker room.

Kallgren is 15-8-1 with a .904 save percentage for the AHL's Toronto Marlies this season.