Leafs Analysis: Can Garret Sparks Rebound From The Loss?

Garret Sparks had a story book ending to his first NHL game for the Leafs just a few days ago. Nobody could have imagined a more perfect way for him to start his NHL career.

A shutout and the first Leafs goalie in their 98 year history to do so in their debut. One game with the Leafs and Garret Sparks is already in the Leafs history book; a star was born. The next day you couldn’t flip a channel in Toronto without seeing Sparks’ face.

Sparks’ second start of his career didn’t quite go as well.

It wasn’t pretty, as six goals were recorded against his previously clean sheet and he experienced his first NHL loss.

From the highest of highs, to the lowest of lows, Sparks has experienced a lot in his first two NHL games. How he rebounds the next game will set the pace for the rest of his season and show whether or not he can handle the critical Toronto Maple Leafs fans and media. 

It’s been a whirlwind start to his pro-career, from the ECHL to the NHL in a matter of months. Sparks, 22, has battled his way up to the highest level of hockey before anybody would have expected him to. He also just won AHL Player of the month for November. He’s been praised for his play in the AHL as of late and with Bernier being sent down to the Marlies on a 10 day conditioning stint, Sparks has been given the opportunity to develop his game at the highest level and get some early NHL experience under his belt.

More from Editor In Leaf

• Toronto Maple Leafs: Nick Robertson Healthy and Ready
• Ryan Reaves Will Have Zero Impact on Toronto Maple Leafs
• Toronto Maple Leafs: Playing Max Domi In Top-Six a HUGE Mistake
• Top 10 Scandals in the History of the Toronto Maple Leafs
• Toronto Maple Leafs: Results from the Traverse City Prospects Tournament

Against Winnipeg, in his second NHL start, the Leafs left their goaltender out to dry. There’s no other way of really putting it. Poor defensive coverage and lack of battle from the team saw Sparks watch four goals find their way behind him in the 3rd period.

“I lost my composure, I let that third goal get into my head and the fourth came quickly after. It’s one thing to let in a goal, another to let it get to you. One of my best assets is to put things behind me, and for whatever reason I didn’t do that in the third and I paid for it.” (MapleLeafs.NHL.com)

Sparks finished the night stopping 29 of 35 shots, 14 of those shots coming in the 3rd period alone. The team essentially collapsed last night. Four out of the six goals were nearly impossible, outside of sheer luck, for the young goaltender to stop.

Sparks handled the post game interview with class and professionalism. Taking full responsibility for the loss.

“I didn’t do the things that make me good today and I paid for it.” (MapleLeafs.NHL.com)

Coach Babcock also spoke to the media after the game, only with a different perspective on how things went down.

“We made enough mistakes to make the goalie take ownership for no reason. He’s a kid and we were under siege in the third period. And let’s be honest we weren’t good enough. We didn’t slow them down or spend enough time in the O-Zone to be successful tonight. At the end we got what we deserved.” (MapleLeafs.NHL.com)

So as Leafs Nation is “Welcoming Sparks back down to earth“, the young goaltender will continue to work on his game with the support of coach Mike Babcock. 

“It’s my second NHL game and it’s a learning experience, you ask anybody who comes into this league it’s a difficult league they are going to take their lumps at some point, and I got it out of the way early I guess.” (MapleLeafs.NHL.com)

Sparks has shown flashes of brilliance in his two games with the Leafs. His game hasn’t always been perfect, or pretty, but he has the size, the technical positioning, and the ability. A goalie can’t always be perfect, but perfection is also more attainable with the help of your team.

With the right attitude and mental toughness, which he seems to have displayed against Winnipeg, Sparks can grow from this experience. One bad (team) game isn’t the end of your career. Two games is too small of a sample size to determine if he has what it takes to be successful, but being a goaltender for the Leafs is no cakewalk.  One day you’re the cities hero, the next day the fans are demanding to burn you at the stake.

Next: Will Bernier Ever Be Starter Again?

Mental toughness is 85% of goaltender success. Now we just have to wait and see if Sparks really has what it takes to rise from the ashes of this loss and take the reigns at some point in the future of this rebuilding Toronto team.