Dennis Hildeby earns his first NHL shutout as Maple Leafs blank Lightning 2-0

News > Sports News

Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Dennis Hildeby (35) makes a save in front of Tampa Bay Lightning's Jake Guentzel (59) and Leafs defenseman Jake McCabe (22) during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Toronto, Monday, Dec. 8, 2025. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Maple Leafs' Auston Matthews (34) looks to wrap the puck around Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Jonas Johansson's net during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Toronto, Monday, Dec. 8, 2025. Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP) — Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Dennis Hildeby (35) makes a save in front of Tampa Bay Lightning's Jake Guentzel (59) and Leafs defenseman Jake McCabe (22) during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Toronto, Monday, Dec. 8, 2025. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)

Audio By Carbonatix

10:39 PM on Monday, December 8

The Associated Press

TORONTO (AP) — Dennis Hildeby made 29 saves for the first shutout of his NHL career as the Toronto Maple Leafs blanked the Tampa Bay Lightning 2-0 on Monday night.

Morgan Rielly and Auston Matthews, into the empty net, scored for Toronto, which improved to 4-0-1 over its last five games.

Jonas Johansson stopped 22 shots for Tampa Bay. The Lightning have dropped four straight after winning seven in a row.

Hildeby, who started the season as the Maple Leafs’ No. 4 goaltending option, got another start with both Anthony Stolarz and Joseph Woll on injured reserve.

The Lightning had center Brayden Point and winger Nikita Kucherov back in the lineup from injury absences, but were minus No. 1 goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy. Point missed seven games with an undisclosed injury, while Kucherov sat out Saturday’s 2-0 home loss to the New York Islanders.

Tampa Bay has now been shut out in consecutive games for the first time since November 2023.

Lightning coach Jon Cooper said he hopes Vasilevskiy can return during the team’s four-game road trip, which started Monday.

John Tavares assisted on Rielly’s goal to become the first Toronto player age 35 or older with at least 30 points before their 30th game of a season since Mats Sundin in 2007-08.

Up next

Lightning: At Montreal on Tuesday night in the second of a four-game trip.

Maple Leafs: Host San Jose on Thursday night in the third of a five-game homestand.

___

AP NHL: https://www.apnews.com/hub/NHL