Which NHL goaltender recorded the first shutout in league history?

Georges Vezina recorded the first shutout in NHL history.

Vezina earned the milestone with the Montreal Canadiens on December 21, 1917, in the NHL’s first season. Montreal defeated the Toronto Arenas 6–0, giving Vezina the league’s first official shutout.

The game took place only days after the NHL began operations in December 1917. Vezina was already an established star from his time with the Canadiens before the new league was formed, and he became one of its foundational goaltenders.

Vezina’s name later became permanently associated with goaltending excellence when the NHL introduced the Vezina Trophy in 1927–28. The award originally went to the goalie of the team allowing the fewest goals, before its voting criteria changed in 1981.