Maple Leafs goalie Erik Kallgren to make first NHL start vs. Stars

Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Erik Kallgren saved 10 of 11 shots in his NHL debut during this past Thursday's 5-4 overtime loss to the Arizona Coyotes in relief of Petr Mrazek, who started that game in place of the injured Jack Campbell.

According to Dave McCarthy of the league's website, Maple Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe confirmed that Kallgren will make his first NHL start against the Dallas Stars on Tuesday evening. 

"He's very quiet, you don't hear much from him," Keefe said of the 25-year-old who was previously with the Toronto Marlies of the American Hockey League. "He goes about his business. But you saw the confidence when he went in the net (Thursday) with no warning or heads up. … He showed extreme poise and confidence in that moment."

Kallgren will be called upon to stop the figurative bleeding for a Toronto side that has dropped two in a row and four of its last six games. The Maple Leafs surrendered at least four goals across each of their previous six contests. 

Toronto is currently third in the Atlantic Division standings with 79 points, two points ahead of the fourth-place Boston Bruins. Following Tuesday's action, the Maple Leafs next host the Carolina Hurricanes on Thursday. 

Toronto will be without superstar forward Auston Matthews for each of the next two matchups after he was suspended for cross-checking Buffalo Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin during the third period of Sunday's 5-2 defeat.