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

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.

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

Tampa Bay Lightning right wing Pontus Holmberg, left, looks to shoot on Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Dennis Hildeby, rigjht, 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 left wing Matthew Knies (23) battles for the puck with Tampa Bay Lightning right wing Nikita Kucherov (86) 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' 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)

FRIBOURG, Switzerland (AP) — Canada beat Slovenia 3-1 to make it five wins from five games at the ice hockey world championship on Friday.

Emmitt Finnie led with a goal and an assist and Denton Mateychuk and Dylan Cozens also scored. Jet Greaves stopped 13 shots as Canada outshot Slovenia 32-14.

Mateychuk, playing in his first worlds, skated to the top of the left circle before shooting past Slovenia goaltender Zan Us at 11:07 in the opening period.

Cozens added the second from the slot with 6:46 remaining in the middle period for his third goal in Switzerland. Sidney Crosby bagged his sixth assist at the tournament.

Finnie made it 3-0 by deflecting in a shot by Morgan Rielly from the blue line in the final period.

Rozle Bohinc scored a consolation goal for Slovenia with 1:05 left.

Canada tops Group B in Fribourg with Slovakia trailing by three points. The teams meet on Sunday.

Canada has won four games in regulation and one in overtime.

In a Group A in Zurich, Germany downed Hungary 6-2 for its first victory at the worlds after four defeats. Leon Gawanke sparked the Germans with a hat trick.

Later Friday, Finland played Britain in Zurich and Sweden faced Italy in Fribourg.

AP sports: https://apnews.com/sports

Canada's Sidney Crosby, left, vies for the puck against Slovenia's Miha Bericic, right, during a preliminary round game between Canada and Slovenia at the men's ice hockey world championship in Fribourg, Switzerland, Friday May 22, 2026. (Salvatore Di Nolfi/Keystone via AP)

Canada's Emmitt Finnie, left, clashes against Slovenia's goaltender Zan Us, right, during a preliminary round game between Canada and Slovenia at the men's ice hockey world championship in Fribourg, Switzerland, Friday May 22, 2026. (Salvatore Di Nolfi/Keystone via AP)

Canada's Dylan Cozens, second right, celebrates his goal with his teammates Canada's Canada's Macklin Celebrini, left, Sidney Crosby, left, and Canada's Denton Mateychuk, right, centre, after scoring during a preliminary round game between Canada and Slovenia at the men's ice hockey world championship in Fribourg, Switzerland, Friday May 22, 2026. (Salvatore Di Nolfi/Keystone via AP)

Slovenia's goaltender Zan Us, left, concedes his second goal past Slovenia's Blaz Gregorc, right, and Canada's Sidney Crosby, center, during a preliminary round game between Canada and Slovenia at the men's ice hockey world championship in Fribourg, Switzerland, Friday May 22, 2026. (Salvatore Di Nolfi/Keystone via AP)

Canada's Emmitt Finnie, right, clashes against Slovenia's goaltender Zan Us during a preliminary round game between Canada and Slovenia at the men's ice hockey world championship in Fribourg, Switzerland, Friday May 22, 2026. (Salvatore Di Nolfi/Keystone via AP)