Leafs’ Stolarz suffers lower-body injury; Akhtyamov to make 1st NHL start Thursday

TORONTO — Anthony Stolarz stretched to make a save early in Wednesday’s first period.

The Maple Leafs goaltender was face down on the ice in agony a moment later — another blow in a season that can’t end soon enough for Toronto.

Stolarz’s misfortune also opened the door for a young netminder.

Head coach Craig Berube announced following a 4-0 loss to the Washington Capitals that Artur Akhtyamov will be recalled from the American Hockey League and make his first NHL appearance Thursday when the Maple Leafs visit the New York Islanders.

“I’ve really liked him right from camp,” Berube said of the 24-year-old Russian selected 106th overall at the 2020 NHL draft. “Great personality. He’s played well down there. He’s a competitor and he’s really got fast reflexes, and he’s competitive as hell, man.

“I like the kid a lot.”

Akhtyamov is 20-12-4 with a .903 save percentage and a 2.90 goals-against average for the Toronto Marlies, who clinched a playoff spot earlier Wednesday, across 36 AHL games in 2025-26.

“Really dialled in,” said Maple Leafs forward Benoit-Olivier Groulx, who played 55 AHL contests this season. “He does the little things off the ice to really be ready to play the game … really a mentally strong goalie. If he gets scored on or a bad goal or whatever, he’s not fazed by it.

“He actually takes on the challenge to even be better. I think that’s his greatest strength.”

The Maple Leafs also lost forward Dakota Joshua (upper body) and defenceman Brandon Carlo (lower body) to injuries later in the game against Washington.

Berube said centre Luke Haymes and blueliner William Villeneuve will join Akhtyamov as AHL call-ups. Haymes is also slated to make his NHL debut Thursday for the Maple Leafs, who are set to miss the playoffs for the first time since 2016.

Stolarz was hurt after stretching out his left leg to get a pad on Cole Hutson’s shot from distance less than three minutes into Wednesday.

The 32-year-old immediately collapsed to the ice and pulled off his mask. He was attended to by a trainer and had to be helped off the ice by teammates before heading down the tunnel to the locker room.

“It was tough,” said Berube, who didn’t rule Stolarz out for the rest of the season despite there being just four games remaining in a lost campaign. “He did something … and couldn’t go. It’s unfortunate. He’s been hurt a few times this year, but we’ll see where he’s at.”

Stolarz, who missed significant time with an upper-body injury in the fall and has had trouble staying healthy throughout his time in Toronto, is 10-10-3 with a .893 save percentage and a 3.28 GAA.

Woll replaced Stolarz against the Capitals. His record subsequently dropped to 15-15-7 with a .901 save percentage and 3.29 GAA.

“Didn’t look great,” Woll said of his crease mate going down. “Kind of scary to see him go down like that. He’s a pretty tough dude.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 8, 2026.