A pair of netminders picked up their first wins in the NHL on Thursday night.

More impressively, it was the first start in the big leagues for both goaltenders.

Jon Gillies came away with the victory for the Calgary Flames, defeating the Los Angeles Kings 4-1. Gillies turned aside 27 shots in the win, with the lone goal coming from Kings winger Trevor Lewis.

"That was an unbelievable effort by our team. It was fun to be behind and fun to play behind," Gillies told reporters. "When you play behind an effort like that, it's easy to see why they've had so much success this year."

It's been a long road to the NHL for Gillies after the Flames selected him with the 75th pick in the 2012 draft. He spent the following three seasons at Providence College before turning pro with the AHL's Stockton Heat, the Flames' minor-league affiliate.

Gillies has appeared in 38 games with the Heat this season, posting a 17-14-1 record alongside a .909 save percentage and 2.95 goals-against average.

No doubt he made the most of his opportunity, joining the Flames on an emergency recall after backup Chad Johnson was lost to a lower-body injury.

Meanwhile, Eric Comrie got the call for the Winnipeg Jets on Thursday, putting up a huge effort in his NHL debut. He made 35 saves as the Jets defeated the Columbus Blue Jackets on the road.

"He was very, very good, as you saw," Jets coach Paul Maurice told reporters following the victory. "The little things though - rebound control, the number of quick shots that came to him that he got off into the corner - so we didn't have to fight for (the pucks). A smaller goalie has to be positionally really sound to play in this league, and there were three or four that he got with his shoulder or blocker that was all technique."

Canadian hockey fans will recall Comrie from his performance at the 2015 World Junior Championship. The Edmonton native appeared in two games at the tournament, winning both contests and posting a .933 save percentage in the process. Comrie was a part of that year's gold medal-winning squad.

Drafted 59th overall by the Jets in 2013, Comrie completed two more seasons with the WHL's Tri-City Americans before moving on to the AHL.

He owns a 17-25-2 record with a .906 save rate and 2.98 GAA in 48 games this season with the Jets' minor-league affiliate, the Manitoba Moose.

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