Who was the first goaltender to record a shutout in the NHL?

Georges Vezina was the first goaltender to record a shutout in NHL history. On February 18, 1918, he blanked the Toronto Arenas in a 9–0 victory for the Montreal Canadiens.

The achievement came during the NHL’s inaugural season. Vezina had already been an established star with the Canadiens in the National Hockey Association, and he continued as Montreal’s goaltender when the NHL replaced that league in 1917. His calm style and durability made him one of the era’s defining netminders.

A shutout means a goaltender allows no goals during the game. Vezina’s first NHL shutout was not a narrow defensive struggle: Montreal scored nine times while he kept Toronto off the scoreboard. Clint Benedict recorded a shutout soon afterward, which can cause confusion about who was first.

Vezina’s legacy became even more prominent after his death from tuberculosis in 1926. The NHL created the Vezina Trophy in 1927–28, originally awarded to the goaltender allowing the fewest goals. It later evolved into the league’s award for the best goaltender.