Hildeby was called up over Akhtyamov, a rookie with a .929 save percentage through nine games with the Marlies.
After Anthony Stolarz left the Toronto Maple Leafs game on Thursday with an injury, Dennis Hildeby received a text telling him to stay ready for a potential call-up from the AHL.
It's been almost two months since the 23-year-old's last game at the NHL level: a loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets, where he gave up six goals on 38 shots. The game before, his NHL debut, was an impressive win against the New Jersey Devils, giving up just two goals on 23 shots.
Since returning to the Toronto Marlies, Hildeby hasn't had the best numbers. His .897 save percentage through six games is at the bottom of the barrel among goaltenders on the team.
"It's been up and down. Got some things to work on, I would say," Hildeby said on Friday. "But we're getting there. Getting into the rhythm a little bit."
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tu6QvIQw_8Q[/embed]
Hildeby has learned not to expect anything, such as getting into a game when called up to the NHL. He'll likely get in one of the two back-to-back games this weekend (Saturday against the Detroit Red Wings and Sunday vs. the Buffalo Sabres), however, the goaltender isn't looking too far ahead.
"I'm here, so I've learned not to expect anything really," he said. "Just take advantage of the opportunity."
This is a massive chance for the netminder to find his game after a bumpy beginning to the season. He hasn't played much — as Matt Murray and Artur Akhtyamov get games at the AHL level, too — but having a strong game at the NHL level could give him confidence.
That starts with Hildeby working on parts of his game he hasn't liked this year.
"I feel like my rhythm, my timing, a couple of my reads, like screen management, for example. I feel like just my depth how far out, like, all, much of the small things that I feel like I'm not doing exactly how I want to. But I'm not necessarily worried. It's still early."
Hildeby also admitted that having already played two games in the NHL this year will help him if he gets into another with the Maple Leafs during this stint.
"They're gonna help me for sure. I mean, what those two games taught me was that I still have a lot of things to work on and I have a clearer picture of what that is."
Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube said they received good news on Stolarz's lower-body injury, but couldn't reveal when his return might come. Even when asked if the goaltender could return next week, Berube said: "I do, but, in saying that, again, he's gotta get on the ice. But it was good news, overall. Let's just leave it at that. Right now, he's day-to-day."
The last time Woll appeared in back-to-back games was with the Marlies, on Jan. 13 and 14, 2023. He's never played one day after another in the NHL, and with his injury struggles, I doubt the Maple Leafs want to go down that road for the first time this weekend.
The team has been dealing with the injury bug for a while now. They must do everything possible to remain fully healthy. Hildeby getting into one of the two games against Detroit or Buffalo makes sense.
"He came in and played that great game in Jersey for us. So we have confidence in him," Berube said on Friday. "Like I said, he's got a lot of ability and he's obviously a big man. So if we gotta use him, I have confidence in him for sure."