Leafs give Kallgren first start as crease concerns grow

SPORTSCENTRE Reporter

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The Maple Leafs and Dallas Stars (optional) skated at Scotiabank Arena on Tuesday. 

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Erik Kallgren made his National Hockey League debut last week. Tonight, he gets his first start.

"We felt really good about his time in the net the last time we were in this building," said coach Sheldon Keefe. "We saw enough in his short time in the net and his time in the AHL to give him an opportunity."

Kallgren stopped 10 of 11 shots after replacing Petr Mrazek in the second period of a game against the Arizona Coyotes last Thursday.

"You saw the confidence when he went in," Keefe said. "Without any warning or heads up, all the sudden you're in there at a time when the game's not going well for us, and you saw the confidence there." 

After the game, Kallgren fielded a barrage of questions about his unexpected appearance.  

"The piece I might've been most impressed with that day is how he handled you guys after the game," Keefe told reporters. "How he handled the questions. For a guy who was dealing with so much and the excitement of going in there, he showed extreme poise and confidence in that moment. It's a big part of the position, in particular, when you're a part of the Leafs and in this city."

During that media session, Kallgren was asked if he could carry the load for the Leafs if given the chance.

"I'm not going to try to overthink or think what might happen," the 25-year-old said. "I'll just go out there and be me."

Kallgren has a .904 save percentage over 26 games with the Toronto Marlies in the AHL. He helped Vaxjo win a Swedish Hockey League championship last season. 

"He's a quiet guy," said Leafs captain John Tavares. "Seems [like he's] feeling his way out a little bit. But, in