Sparks helps Leafs take down Kings
TORONTO 4 LOS ANGELES 1
TORONTO — Garret Sparks had a lot of thoughts rattling in his head before his first start of the season.
He didn’t have a chance to overthink the second.
Toronto’s backup goalie made 33 saves in place of the injured Frederik Andersen, Kasperi Kapanen scored twice and the Maple Leafs stretched their winning streak to five games with Monday’s 4-1 victory over the Los Angeles Kings.
Sparks allowed six goals on 31 shots in a wild 7-6 overtime triumph in Chicago against the Blackhawks — the team he grew up cheering for as a kid in the nearby suburb of Elmhurst — but was much sharper against Los Angeles in his first home appearance for the Leafs since April 6, 2016.
“When you’re starting the season on the road, in Chicago, Stan Mikita night ... there’s a lot of stuff buzzing around,” Sparks said of the game at United Center on Oct. 7. “It was a really emotional day for me.”
Leafs head coach Mike Babcock named Sparks as a surprise starter against the Kings following Monday’s morning skate, which seemed like a peculiar decision at the time because Toronto had a day off on Sunday.
The team then announced about 2 ⁄ hours before puck drop that Andersen had a lower-body injury and Eamon McAdam had been recalled from the Newfoundland Growlers of the third-tier ECHL.
“I wasn’t anticipating playing when I went to bed [Sunday],” said Sparks, who was the AHL goalie of the year last season. “But that’s the nature of this position — having to be ready and being able to perform when you’re called upon.”
Patrick Marleau and Mitch Marner had the other goals for Toronto (6-1-0), while Auston Matthews and Jake Gardiner each added two assists.
Canadiens 7, Wings 3
MONTREAL — Tomas Plekanec scored in his 1,000th NHL game as the Montreal Canadiens easily defeated the visiting Detroit Red Wings 7-3.
Jonathan Drouin had a pair of goals while Tomas Tatar, Brendan Gallagher, Charles Hudon and Paul Byron also scored for the Canadiens (3-1-1).