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RECAP: Maple Leafs easily dispatch Kraken 6–2

  
RECAP: Maple Leafs easily dispatch Kraken 6–2
Jordan Eberle of the Seattle Kraken skates the puck away from Alexander Kerfoot of the Toronto Maple Leafs during the second period of a game between the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Seattle Kraken at Climate Pledge Arena on Feb. 14, 2022, in Seattle. (Photo by Christopher Mast / NHLI via Getty Images)

The Toronto Maple Leafs visited Climate Pledge Arena on Monday for their rescheduled game against the Seattle Kraken. The Leafs came into this game riding a two-game road losing streak, while the Kraken were 2–2 in the month of February.

The Kraken almost seemed doomed from the puck drop, as (alleged Seattle Kraken legend) Alexander Kerfoot roofed a shot past Seattle starter Philipp Grubauer just under four minutes into play on the Leafs’ second shot on goal. The Kraken tied the game five minutes later on a Calle Jarnkrok shot from the top of the circles.

The Leafs came right back with two more goals from Michael Bunting and Ondrej Kase (on the power play) to take a 3–1 lead into the intermission and chase Grubauer from the game. Chris Driedger did not fare much better either, though, behind a chaotic defense and sketchy special teams.

Seattle never gained any momentum back, giving up another power play goal to Mitch Marner in the second period and then a shorthanded goal to David Kampf early in the third period, which left them facing a 5–1 deficit.

The Kraken did add a power play goal of their own late in the third period from Maple Leafs legend Jared McCann, but this was far too little, far too late. Toronto wrapped up the scoring with a long bomb from Jake Muzzin at the 18:19 mark of the third period to walk away with a convincing 6–2 win.

Anchor points

⚓ Shots on net were 25–25. Toronto led 11–6 in the first period and the Kraken turned around an 11–6 period of their own in the third. Needless to say, that first period did the Kraken in. Not many teams are coming back from a 3–1 deficit against the Leafs…well, outside of the Montreal Canadiens, I suppose.

⚓ I was surprised to see Dave Hakstol pull Grubauer, but I support his decision. The team was flat and Grubauer was, too. Driedger looked pretty good. He was screened on the Marner power play goal and left hung out to dry on the Kampf shorthander.

⚓ Special teams just ate up the Kraken. While they scored a late power play goal, they gave up two power play goals and a shorthanded goal previous to that. If you allow three special teams goals against, you will not win many games.

⚓ Surprisingly, the Kraken led in almost all possession metrics.  Again, an enigma.

🔱 5-on-5 Corsi (total shot attempts) RECAP: Maple Leafs easily dispatch Kraken 6–2 59%–41% RECAP: Maple Leafs easily dispatch Kraken 6–2
🔱 5-on-5 Fenwick (Unblocked shot attempts) RECAP: Maple Leafs easily dispatch Kraken 6–2 55%–45% RECAP: Maple Leafs easily dispatch Kraken 6–2
🔱 5-on-5 High-danger chances for RECAP: Maple Leafs easily dispatch Kraken 6–2 50%–50% RECAP: Maple Leafs easily dispatch Kraken 6–2
🔱 5-on-5 Expected goals for RECAP: Maple Leafs easily dispatch Kraken 6–2 60%–40% RECAP: Maple Leafs easily dispatch Kraken 6–2
🔱 Face-off percentage RECAP: Maple Leafs easily dispatch Kraken 6–2 59%–41% RECAP: Maple Leafs easily dispatch Kraken 6–2

⚓ The Kraken are off until Thursday night when they face the Winnipeg Jets in Winnipeg to start a three-game road trip through western and central Canada. The puck drop is scheduled for 5 p.m. PST.

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