TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS (32-19-2) at SEATTLE KRAKEN (23-28-4)
When: Thursday, 10 p.m., Climate Pledge Arena
TV: TSN4 Radio: The Fan 590
Odds: Maple Leafs -145, Kraken +116
The buzz
An off-season coaching change by the Kraken hasn’t resulted in success. In its first season under Dan Bylsma after Dave Hakstol was fired, the Kraken is nine points out of a playoff spot in the Western Conference. Since the calendar turned to 2025, the Kraken is 6-9-2 in 17 games, including a 5-4 loss in a shootout at home against Detroit on Tuesday … In its short history, the Kraken have been owned by the Leafs. Toronto is 6-1-0 in seven meetings and has outscored Seattle 29-17. In three games in Seattle, the Leafs are 3-0 and have outscored the Kraken 14-3 … The Kraken has some balanced scoring, as it was the only Western Conference team through games on Tuesday that had nine players with at least 10 goals. In the Eastern Conference, only Carolina, Montreal and Washington could boast the same … A bright spot for Seattle has been the play of goalie Joey Daccord. He sports a .916 save percentage, good for sixth in the NHL before games on Wednesday … How much have the Leafs’ top forwards dominated in the seven career games against Seattle? Have a look: Captain Auston Matthews has 13 points (seven goals and six assists); William Nylander has nine points (three goals and six assists); John Tavares has seven points (three goals and four assists); and Mitch Marner, who could be back in the lineup, has 14 points (five goals and nine assists) … In the only other meeting between the teams in 2024-25, the Leafs won 4-1 in Toronto on Halloween. Nylander scored two goals that night.
The news
Whether goalie Anthony Stolarz (knee) or Marner (lower body) plays will be determined on Thursday. The Leafs did not practise on Wednesday in Seattle, but both players were on the ice … In 18 games since Stolarz was forced to the sideline in mid-December with a knee issue, Joseph Woll is 11-7-0 with a .902 save percentage and a 2.97 goals-against average.
The quote
“I was just laughing, (Monday) in practice he scored on me every time he shot on me, so as soon as he got the puck, no question he is going to score. Any time the puck is in his hands, he’s dangerous.”
— Woll on Nylander’s hat trick in the 6-3 win in Calgary against the Flames on Tuesday
The poll
Seattle represents the NHL’s most recent expansion site (we’re not including the Utah Hockey Club, as it relocated from Arizona). If the NHL expanded to another U.S. city, which one would be your preference?
The projected Leafs lineup
Forwards
Matthew Knies-Auston Matthews-Max Domi
Max Pacioretty-John Tavares-William Nylander
Bobby McMann-Pontus Holmberg-Nick Robertson
Steven Lorentz-David Kampf-Ryan Reaves
Defence
Morgan Rielly—Oliver Ekman-Larsson
Jake McCabe-Chris Tanev
Simon Benoit-Conor Timmins
Goal
Joseph Woll
Matt Murray
The injuries
TOR: RW Mitch Marner (lower body),G Anthony Stolarz (knee), F Calle Jarnkrok (groin), D Jani Hakanpaa (knee), F Connor Dewar (upper body).
SEA: F Jordan Eberle (pelvis), F Yanni Gourde (sports hernia), D Ryker Evans (upper body).
The prediction
The Leafs continue to dominate the Kraken and win their third in a row on the four-game trip, which ends on Saturday in Vancouver. 4-1 Toronto.
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