The Toronto Maple Leafs have urgently recalled four players from the American Hockey League after a series of injuries.
Goaltender Artur Akhtyamov, forwards Luke Haymes and Ryan Tverberg and defenseman William Villeneuve were all called up from the Toronto Marlies, the team confirmed.
Forward Bo Groulx was sent back to the Marlies in a corresponding move.
The calls follow a game in Washington where Toronto lost Anthony Stolarz, Brandon Carlo and Dakota Joshua to injury.
All three have already been ruled out of Thursday’s game against the New York Islanders.
Head coach Craig Berube confirmed that Akhtyamov will make his first NHL start in goal.
The 24-year-old has posted a 20-12-4 record in 36 games with the Marlies this season, along with a 2.90 goals-against average and a .903 save percentage.
The injury-hit Maple Leafs are already out of the playoffs and will look to upset an Islanders team still fighting for a wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference.
