{"id":598787,"date":"2026-04-10T22:32:08","date_gmt":"2026-04-10T22:32:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/598787\/"},"modified":"2026-04-10T22:32:08","modified_gmt":"2026-04-10T22:32:08","slug":"akhtyamov-smiles-through-islanders-onslaught","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/598787\/","title":{"rendered":"Akhtyamov smiles through Islanders\u2019 onslaught"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Maple Leafs lost 5-3 to the New York Islanders<\/a> at UBS Arena on Thursday. The team has a day off on Friday. <\/p>\n

—<\/p>\n

Artur Akhtyamov<\/a> allowed five goals on 44 shots and took the loss in his first NHL start on Thursday night in New York, but the rookie goalie was smiling throughout his post-game media session. <\/p>\n

Asked if he had a favourite moment from the night, the Russian couldn\u2019t pick just one. <\/p>\n

\u201cEvery moment [was] my favourite,\u201d Akhtyamov said. \u201cYeah, I remember this game all my life.\u201d<\/p>\n

With Anthony Stolarz<\/a> sustaining an injury early in Wednesday\u2019s outing and Joseph Woll<\/a> playing most of the game against the Washington Capitals<\/a>, the door opened for Akhtyamov to be called up and face the Islanders. <\/p>\n

\u201cIt feels unbelievable,\u201d the 24-year-old said. \u201cLike, my first game, I\u2019m so excited and that\u2019s a good experience for me.\u201d<\/p>\n

Any nerves? <\/p>\n

\u201cNot really,\u201d he said. \u201cJust maybe right before the game.\u201d<\/p>\n

Akhtyamov noted that a 10-minute relief appearance against Connor McDavid<\/a> and the Edmonton Oilers<\/a> back in December helped prepare him for this moment. <\/p>\n

And Akhtyamov didn\u2019t really have any time to be nervous on Thursday. The Islanders fired 24 shots in the first period. <\/p>\n

\u201cI like when I busy,\u201d Akhtyamov said, shrugging off the workload. <\/p>\n

Before the game, Leafs coach Craig Berube<\/a> called on his players to dig in to protect the young netminder. So, was Akhtyamov surprised to face such a barrage? <\/p>\n

\u201cNo,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019m a goalie and that\u2019s my work. I was ready. I was ready.\u201d<\/p>\n

Akhtyamov allowed two goals in the opening frame and somehow the Leafs escaped down just 2-1. <\/p>\n

\u201cWe kind of left Arty out to dry, giving up that many shots,\u201d admitted winger Steven Lorentz<\/a>. \u201cWe didn\u2019t really give him much of a chance. But he looked calm. He looked confident. He made some saves when he was moving side to side and he just looked like he felt comfortable.\u201d<\/p>\n

Akhtyamov, who was selected by the Leafs in the fourth round of the 2020 draft, has been trending up all season. He has a .903 save percentage in 36 games with the Toronto Marlies and represented the team in the American Hockey League All-Star Game. <\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s my second season here [in North America] and this season I play more games and this really helps me,\u201d Akhtyamov said. \u201cI feel more, like, I don\u2019t know how to say.\u201d<\/p>\n

Reporters suggested \u201ccomfortable.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMore comfortable, yeah,\u201d Akhtyamov said. \u201cAnd also we have a good team with Marlies and we clinched playoffs.\u201d<\/p>\n

That was the only time Akhtyamov asked for help in answering 13 questions. <\/p>\n

When fellow Leafs goalie prospect Dennis Hildeby<\/a> got a run in the NHL earlier this season, Akhtyamov watched the Swede\u2019s media sessions and told Marlies staff he wanted to work on doing interviews and learn how to handle scrums in a similar way.<\/p>\n

Akhtyamov seems to be embracing everything that comes his way. <\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s just got a good energy to him,\u201d said Leafs centre John Tavares<\/a>. \u201cAlways got a smile on his face and just enjoys being around the group.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s quiet and has a good positive attitude,\u201d observed defenceman Morgan Rielly<\/a>. \u201cI thought he looked great. He seemed calm and collected before the game. So, kudos to him on a great night.\u201d<\/p>\n

‘Remember this game all my life’: Leafs’ Akhtyamov ‘feels unbelievable’ in first NHL start Artur Akhtyamov allowed five goals on 44 shots while making his first NHL start on Thursday. Despite losing to the Islanders, the 24-year-old Russian smiled throughout his post-game media session and said the game was one he would remember for the rest of his life <\/p>\n

—<\/p>\n

Akhtyamov was excited to go up against one of his idols on Thursday and actually finished with a better save percentage (.886) than countryman Ilya Sorokin<\/a> (.813).<\/p>\n

\u201cHe was one of my favourite goalies when I was younger,\u201d Akhtyamov said. \u201cI watched his game when he was in KHL and when he moved here. I was so excited to play against him.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sorokin appeared to be off his game Thursday, but the Leafs only tested the Vezina Trophy contender with 16 shots. <\/p>\n

Toronto struggled to match New York\u2019s intensity to start the game. <\/p>\n

\u201cThey have lots to play for,\u201d Rielly noted. \u201cThey came out hard. We knew they were going to. Being down 2-1 after the first, I thought we were in a decent spot all things considered. But they came out playing hard. They have a lot on the line with playoffs.\u201d<\/p>\n

With the win, the Islanders moved within one point of the Philadelphia Flyers<\/a> in the race for the third and final playoff spot in the Metropolitan Division. <\/p>\n

New York was also playing their first game since Peter DeBoer replaced Patrick Roy<\/a> as head coach. <\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s a desperate hockey team and that\u2019s a team that just wanted to pepper us,\u201d Lorentz said. \u201cI\u2019m sure they knew that there was a kid in net who it was his first NHL game … Guys are going to fire pucks from everywhere so that\u2019s what they did. You got to tip your caps to them. We just didn\u2019t have the energy that they brought.\u201d<\/p>\n

As has been the case most of the season, the Leafs could not move the puck effectively up ice. <\/p>\n

\u201cWe didn\u2019t recover pucks and make a play to get out of there, so we got hemmed in a little bit too much,\u201d Berube said. \u201cI thought we settled in. Scored a PP goal and got ourselves back in the game, and then we got into penalty trouble. That\u2019s really the bottom line.\u201d<\/p>\n

‘Didn’t really give him much of a chance’: Leafs hang rookie goalie Akhtyamov out to dry The Leafs did not provide Artur Akhtyamov much support early in Thursday’s game as the playoff-hungry Islanders peppered the rookie goalie, who was making his first NHL start, with 24 shots in the first period. “We kind of left Arty out to dry,” admitted Steven Lorentz. “We didn\u2019t really give him much of a chance.” <\/p>\n

—<\/p>\n

The Islanders scored their first goal in 6-on-5 play with a delayed call coming against the Leafs.<\/p>\n

New York ended up getting five power plays in the game and struck twice, including on a two-man advantage in the third period. <\/p>\n

With Rielly already in the box for hooking Marc Gatcomb<\/a>, Lorentz was whistled for slashing Matthew Scahefer. <\/p>\n

\u201cI didn\u2019t like the 5-on-3 call at all,\u201d Berube said. \u201cI think it\u2019s weak.\u201d<\/p>\n

Veteran defenceman Oliver Ekman-Larsson<\/a> was so annoyed that he received a misconduct for protesting. <\/p>\n

\u201cHe smashed his stick on the boards, and they gave him a 10,\u201d Berube said. <\/p>\n

Lorentz tried to get an explanation from referee Francois St. Laurent after watching Cal Ritchie score to put the Islanders up 5-2, which all but ended Toronto\u2019s comeback chances. <\/p>\n

\u201cI wasn\u2019t a big fan of that,\u201d said Lorentz, who has only taken seven penalties in 68 games this season. \u201cThat play happens a lot, and I don\u2019t think I really knocked [the stick] out of his hands. He was kind of releasing the puck through a shot and when I hit his stick it just kind of came off funny. <\/p>\n

\u201cI had a word with [St. Laurent] afterwards and just wanted to see what his thoughts on it were. I let him know what I thought and we just kind of agreed to disagree. There\u2019s not much else to be said about that. When you hit a guy on the hands it\u2019s a penalty at the end of the day. I just thought with the way the game was being called, you know, we\u2019re shorthanded, it\u2019s a close game, I thought that one may not have been a penalty, but it was and so be it. He had his reasons and it\u2019s fine.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ekman-Larsson received misconduct as Leafs fumed about ‘weak’ call that put them down two men After Steven Lorentz received a slashing penalty, which put the Leafs down two men in the third period on Thursday, Oliver Ekman-Larsson smashed his stick at the bench in protest. The veteran defenceman was assessed a misconduct. <\/p>\n

—<\/p>\n

In the second period, Schaefer walked in and beat Akhtyamov with a five-hole shot. <\/p>\n

\u201cI was just unlucky,\u201d Akhtyamov said with a grin. \u201cBut, yeah, he shoot pretty strong. Yeah, he\u2019s a good player.\u201d<\/p>\n

That\u2019s an understatement. The goal was Schaefer\u2019s 23rd, which tied Brian Lee<\/a>tch for the most ever by a rookie defenceman. <\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s an elite player,\u201d Berube said. \u201cI don\u2019t know if I\u2019ve seen too many guys with that ability and the skating ability he has. The way he can cut back and work his edges, and his release on his shot is elite. He\u2019s an elite player at 19 years old or whatever he is, 18. He is a good one, and he is going to be a great player for a long time.\u201d<\/p>\n

Matthew Schaefer said Oliver Ekman-Larsson congratulated him on tying the rookie record for goals by a defenseman during a stoppage. <\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s like, \u2018I had 23 goals one season. I don\u2019t know if you were born yet.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

Ekman-Larsson did it in 2014-15. Schaefer would\u2019ve been 7.<\/p>\n

\u2014 Peter Baugh (@Peter_Baugh) April 10, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

Schaefer, who was the first-overall pick in last year\u2019s draft, will not turn 19 until September. <\/p>\n

Fans were chanting his name when he scored and then again after the game. <\/p>\n

\u201cRightfully so,\u201d Islanders forward Brayden Schenn told TSN<\/a>. \u201cIt\u2019s just incredible to see. Everyone maybe thinks he\u2019s an offensive guy who puts up numbers, but he defends just as hard. It\u2019s not the player that guys really root for, it\u2019s the person. He\u2019s an incredible person, an incredible kid who everyone loves around our dressing room.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Talking Point: Is Schaefer already on path to all-time greatness? New York’s Matthew Schaefer sits third in rookie scoring with 23 goals and 59 points, and is 13th overall in defenceman scoring in the NHL. All this while being only 18-years-old. Is Schaefer already on path to all-time greatness? TSN Director of Scouting Craig Button shares his thoughts. <\/p>\n

—<\/p>\n

Leafs rookie Luke Haymes<\/a> also showed promise on Thursday in making his NHL debut. <\/p>\n

\u201cHonestly, I think I played well because I just didn\u2019t think a whole lot,\u201d the 22-year-old centre from Ottawa said. \u201cMy legs were there because the adrenaline was pumping and [got the] first game jitters out of the way quick. I did a good job of getting in on the forecheck and trying to create stuff for my linemates.\u201d<\/p>\n

Haymes\u2019 work on the forecheck created Toronto\u2019s first goal by Lorentz. <\/p>\n

Haymes picked up an assist after his faceoff win over Mathew Barzal<\/a> led to Rielly\u2019s third-period goal. <\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s a mature, young man,\u201d said Rielly, who trained alongside Haymes in Toronto during the summer. \u201cI thought he handled himself great before the game, seemed calm and collected. He played a good style of game. Like, he plays a good, responsible, 200-foot game. I thought he was great.\u201d<\/p>\n

Haymes landed one shot on net and hit the post on another attempt. He logged 12 minutes and 36 seconds and finished the night plus-one. <\/p>\n

What was his welcome-to-the-NHL moment? <\/p>\n

\u201cHonestly, just being in the room with the guys,\u201d said Haymes, who signed with the Leafs out of Dartmouth College last year. \u201cA lot of big names in here and guys who have worked really hard to be where they are, and to be in the room with them and just share a moment of a NHL game was just really cool.\u201d<\/p>\n

Haymes found out he would be playing on Wednesday and had his parents and siblings in the crowd cheering him on. <\/p>\n

\u201cI have two older brothers and I wouldn\u2019t be in this spot without them,\u201d Haymes said. \u201cAll the nights on the [outdoor rink] with them and working out with them a bunch when I was younger. I want to thank them along with all my former coaches, mentors, my advisor Michael O\u2019Rafferty and a whole lot of other people who helped me get here.\u201d<\/p>\n

Haymes on key to strong NHL debut with Leafs: ‘I didn’t think a whole lot’ Luke Haymes picked up his first NHL point in his first NHL game on Thursday. “Honestly, I think I played well because I just didn\u2019t think a whole lot,” the 22-year-old Leafs centre said. Haymes was grateful to have his parents and two older brothers in the crowd. <\/p>\n

—<\/p>\n

Dakota Joshua<\/a> sustained an upper-body injury on Wednesday and the winger is likely done for the season, Berube said. <\/p>\n

Stolarz was due to get some imaging done on his lower-body injury on Friday. Ditto for defenceman Brandon Carlo<\/a>, who also sustained a lower-body injury on Wednesday. <\/p>\n

—<\/p>\n

Leafs lines to start Thursday\u2019s game:<\/p>\n

Cowan – Tavares – Nylander<\/p>\n

Maccelli – Domi – Knies<\/p>\n

Lorentz – Haymes – Robertson<\/p>\n

Pezzetta – Quillan – Jarnkrok<\/p>\n

Rielly – Myers<\/p>\n

McCabe – Ekman-Larsson<\/p>\n

Benoit – Stecher<\/p>\n

Akhtyamov <\/p>\n

Woll<\/p>\n