NHL Records: The Perfect Teen Titans—18-Year Old Goalies With An NHL Shutout
In my previous look at the NHL’s "Teen Titans", the focus was on the incredibly short list of goaltenders who managed to secure an NHL win at just 18 years old. While winning a game at that age is a monumental feat, there is an even more exclusive tier of excellence. To step into an NHL crease at the age of 18 and not allow a single puck to pass you during an entire game is beyond extraordinary. In NHL history, only three 18-year old goalies have ever earned a shutout: Tom Barrasso (1984), Marc-André Fleury (2003), and Harry Lumley (1945; from the NHL’s Original Six).
1. Tom Barrasso: From High School to a Clean Sheet
Tom Barrasso’s entry into the NHL remains one of the most aggressive jumps in sports history. Drafted 5th overall by the Buffalo Sabres straight out of high school, Barrasso didn't just survive; he dominated. On January 18, 1984, at 18 years and 293 days old, Barrasso led the Sabres into Los Angeles to face the Kings. He was a brick wall, turning aside all 30 shots he faced in a 4-0 victory. This performance was the catalyst for a historic season where Barrasso won both the Calder Trophy and Vezina Trophy.
2. Marc-André Fleury: A Legendary First Bloom
Nearly twenty years later, the hockey world met Marc-André Fleury. The first overall pick in 2003 was tasked with helping to revive the Pittsburgh Penguins, and "Flower" showed his potential almost immediately. On October 30, 2003, at 18 years and 336 days old, Fleury faced off against the Chicago Blackhawks. In a high-pressure, low-scoring affair, Fleury turned away 20 shots to secure a 1-0 win. It was the first shutout of a career that would eventually see him climb to second on the NHL’s all-time wins list (575 NHL wins).
3. Harry Lumley: The Youngest Goalie to Earn a Shutout
While Barrasso and Fleury represent the modern era, they were both chasing a ghost from the NHL’s Original Six. On January 14, 1945, at 18 years and 64 days old, Harry Lumley led the Detroit Red Wings to a 3-0 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs. Harry Lumley played 803 NHL games and earned 330 wins alongside 71 shutouts.
18-Year Old Perfection in NHL History
To date, Tom Barrasso, Marc-André Fleury, and Harry Lumley are the only goalies to achieve perfection—earning a shutout—at 18 years of age, cementing an NHL record that remains one of the hardest to reach.