Hildeby allowed two goals in his first six shots that he faced, but settled down and took a shot of his own.
Dennis Hildeby had a clear shot at the net.
With his team leading 5-3 late in regulation, the Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender picked up the puck and aimed for the empty net.
Unfortunately for the towering Swede, his attempt was thwarted in the neutral zone when Buffalo Sabres forward JJ Peterka intercepted it and knocked it down.
"I tried, but I don't know. I had a couple tries now, but maybe one day, we'll see," Hildeby confessed.
Though the goaltender wasn’t credited with a shot attempt on the scoresheet, the puck seemed to be on target.
This wasn’t Hildeby’s first attempt at a goalie goal, but he has yet to score one at any level.
"I think that was my best effort, honestly. Some of them I tried had been getting far out of the corner," he added.
On February 9, while playing with the Toronto Marlies, Hildeby tried his luck again during a 4-1 game against the Laval Rocket in AHL action. However, that puck sailed wide of the goal.
Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube had no issues with Hildeby’s latest attempt, especially since there weren’t any Leafs in position to take the puck.
"I thought it was a good play," Berube said. "Guys are taking the outlets out on coming down the wall. Smart play, fired it down the ice. I mean, I'm okay with that."
Hildeby had been called up to the Maple Leafs on Friday following goaltender Anthony Stolarz’s lower-body injury in a 3-2 win against the Anaheim Ducks. Although Hildeby had a shaky start in Sunday’s game—allowing two goals on the first six shots—he seemed to find his rhythm as the game progressed, supported by a strong offensive showing. John Tavares notched a hat trick, Max Domi scored his first goal of the season, and Nick Robertson tallied his third, bouncing back after being a healthy scratch for three games.
Still, the players were most excited about the possibility of their rookie goaltender scoring a goal.
"I would love to see that goal go in," Domi said. "He's awesome, massive human being, and great dude, so happy for him."
No Maple Leafs goaltender has ever scored a goal in the club's 107-year history.
