Akhtyamov won his fifth game of the season on Sunday with the Marlies after Alex Nylander potted the overtime winner.

Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Artur Akhtyamov hasn't disappointed in the AHL with the Toronto Marlies.

Coming from Russia after a strong KHL season last year, where the 23-year-old had a .921 save percentage through 17 games, there were questions about how he'd perform in Toronto.

Quickly, though, Akhtyamov answered those questions.

In his third-career AHL game, the goaltender registered his first shutout, stopping all 17 shots in a 4-0 win over the Utica Comets. On Sunday, he allowed just one goal on 31 shots, helping the Marlies secure a win in overtime against the Rochester Americans.

Akhtyamov has five wins through six games and a strong .926 save percentage, the best among Marlies goaltenders.

"He's competitive, for one. He's square to the puck and he's quick. There's a lot there to like," Marlies head coach John Gruden said of Akhtyamov on Sunday evening.

Toronto had to kill seven Rochester power plays in their 2-1 overtime win. It was a full team effort with players quick on their opponent and fast to block shots. Akhtyamov was also a massive reason the Americans couldn't find the back of the net on the man advantage.

"The goalie's gotta be your best penalty killer and he was outstanding," Gruden added.

With Dennis Hildeby getting some time up with the Maple Leafs early in the season, Akhtyamov has gotten the most games among the Marlies goaltenders. The Russian goaltender got an opportunity with Toronto and ran with it.

Akhtyamov reminds the Marlies head coach of one of the NHL's best goaltenders: Ilya Sorokin, whom Gruden had the privilege of coaching while being an assistant with the New York Islanders.

"Just very quick side to side, athletic. Again, it's always an adjustment coming over here and playing a North American game where it's a little more traffic, but he seems like he's handling that really well, and good, again, for him," Gruden said.

The Maple Leafs drafted Akhtyamov in the fourth round (106th overall) in the 2020 NHL Draft. It can always be a challenge when it comes to picking goaltenders given their position can be quite daunting as they approach the NHL.

But Akhtyamov has settled right into the AHL with this Marlies team, and he's assisting them even when the offense isn't producing.

"We wouldn't have won that game without him," Gruden said.