(AP) — Justin Pogge only wanted a shot to prove himself as an NHL goaltender. Four years after Toronto drafted him 90th overall, Pogge finally made the most of his big chance.
"I was pretty nervous before they dropped the puck, but once they dropped the puck, it was just another game," Pogge said. "I’m just glad I got this one over with."
Pogge made 19 saves to win his NHL debut in the Maple Leafs’ 6-2 victory over the Atlanta Thrashers on Monday night.
"It was nice to see Justin play as well as he did," Toronto coach Ron Wilson said. "When he is in a butterfly, all he has to do is move two or three inches. We played really in well in front of him, but he made three or four saves that would have given (Atlanta) lots of momentum."
Pogge, called up from the Toronto Marlies on Sunday, is 10-9-3 with a 2.86 goals-against average and an .890 save percentage in 22 AHL appearances this season.
"I’m just glad the guys kept scoring," Pogge said. "They got more than I let in. They were letting me see the puck. I love that. Every time they got one, we got a couple."
