Maple Leafs add goaltender Artur Akhtyamov to playoff roster

The 23-year-old native of Kazan, Russia enjoyed a solid rookie season with the American Hockey League’s Toronto Marlies, appearing in 26 regular season games, posting a 11-8-4 record, along with a 2.81 goals against average, and .901 save percentage. It was Akhtyamov’s first professional season in North America, and while in an ideal world he doesn’t see any action, it’s great experience for the young netminder to be around the hockey club during the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Akhtyamov spent last season with the KHL’s Kazan Ak-Bars, going 6-7-0, with a 2.51 goals against average and an impressive .921 save percentage. At 6-foot-2, he has great size in net, and has shown off his athleticism and quickness time and time again this season. With Dennis Hildeby and Matt Murray options in net for the Marlies, Akhtyamov wasn’t likely to see much action in the Calder Cup Playoffs.

As for the Maple Leafs, they get set to host the Senators for Game 1 Sunday night, with Anthony Stolarz starting in net. Stolarz has posted fantastic numbers in his first season as a Leaf, with a 21-8-3 record, 2.14 goals against average, and .926 save percentage. Stolarz has won his last eight starts, which has included posting three shutouts.

Throughout the regular season, the Senators won all three games against the Maple Leafs, so Toronto will look to move past their regular-season troubles against the Sens, and bring the passion for Leafs Nation in Game 1.

The Maple Leafs also recalled Ryan Reaves earlier in the week from the Marlies, however, at this point, it doesn’t appear Reaves will see any action throughout the Stanley Cup Playoffs.