Toronto has gone perfect on the penalty kill to start the season, not allowing a power play goal through 20 opportunities.
Toronto has gone perfect on the penalty kill to start the season, not allowing a power play goal through 20 opportunities.
The Toronto Marlies had a massive game on Sunday night.
Not only did they extend their unbeaten streak to five games to begin their season, but several Maple Leafs prospects achieved firsts in the team's 3-0 win against the Utica Comets.
Artur Akhtyamov, who Toronto drafted in the fourth round (106th overall) in the 2020 NHL Draft, won in his third-straight start with the Marlies. He also recorded his first shutout in the AHL, stopping all 17 shots from Utica.
The 22-year-old goaltender is now up to a towering .964 save percentage through three games this season, allowing only three goals on his first 83 shots of the season.
"He’s got great composure. Nothing seems to really rattle him. He can handle the traffic and he just has that quiet confidence to himself," Marlies head coach John Gruden said after Sunday's game.
"It's been a great start. I know we said it's only the second game (on Friday). Well now, it's his third, and he's doing it again. He's just gotta continue to understand it's a long season and consistency is everything. He's doing a great job."
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=29ZV1a94qz8[/embed]
Another Russian who had a massive game was Nikita Grebenkin. After an eventful pre-season with the Maple Leafs, where he was strong throughout training camp, the 21-year-old came down to the Marlies and continued that success.
The fifth-round pick in 2022 has four points in his first five AHL games, including assists on both of Cedric Pare's goals on Sunday, plus a goal of his own, which is his first professional goal in North America.
"It took him a little bit of time to get used to the speed and things (are) a little bit more chaotic. It happens a little quicker, it's a smaller rink," Gruden said on Sunday. "But I think once he gets used to it, you can see the vision. The plays that he made on both those goals were outstanding."
Pare, who had two goals, after the puck came off Grebenkin's stick also said the Russian's vision is impressive.
"As we saw tonight, his vision is unreal," Pare said. "I know that sometimes he's in an awkward situation and I know that he sees me, so I just try to be open for him and try to give him the puck as much as possible."
As Maple Leafs assistant GM Hayley Wickenheiser said in the summer at the team's development camp, Toronto's Russian prospects, which include Grebenkin, Akhtyamov, and Vyacheslav Peksa, are a lot of fun.
"They cease to amaze us with their entertainment," she said.
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YVlyapLaP78[/embed]
Grebenkin's celebration of his goal proved that further on Sunday.
Even Maple Leafs prospect and Marlies forward Ryan Tverberg, who's spent time alongside Grebenkin on Toronto's third line, admitted that the Russian forward is quite the character.
"He's a funny Russian guy," Tverberg said.
"Telling jokes. [I was] asking him how he is today and he’s just like, 'Very, very excellent.'"
It's safe to say it'll be a fascinating season with the likes of Akhtyamov and Grebenkin in the AHL with the Marlies.
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