Kraken 5, Maple Leafs 2: Seattle Smothers Toronto in Statement Win
If you’ve been watching the Maple Leafs lately, this one didn’t exactly come out of left field. Toronto looked out of sync, and the Kraken made sure it stayed that way, bringing the kind of relentless pressure that’s quickly becoming their calling card. This wasn’t just a win for Seattle-it was a clinic in disciplined, suffocating hockey.
Before the puck even dropped, Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube warned that Seattle wouldn’t give his team much room to operate. He wasn’t wrong.
The Kraken’s checking game was dialed in from the opening faceoff, echoing similar praise they earned earlier in the week from Capitals coach Spencer Carbery. Seattle doesn’t just play defense-they swarm you, frustrate you, and capitalize when you slip up.
That’s exactly how this one unfolded.
Beniers Sets the Tone Early
It took just 81 seconds for Seattle to make its presence felt. Matty Beniers found himself alone in the slot-never a good idea-and snapped a wrister through Anthony Stolarz to put the Kraken on the board. It was a moment that set the tone for the night: Seattle was ready to pounce, and Toronto was already chasing.
The Leafs did manage to respond late in the first, with Nick Robertson knotting the game at 1-1. But any momentum Toronto hoped to build was short-lived.
Wright Breaks Through, Kraken Pull Away
Early in the second, Shane Wright ended a 13-game goal drought with a heads-up backhand off a rebound. It wasn’t flashy, but it was the kind of gritty, opportunistic goal that defines Seattle’s identity. Less than a minute later, Brandon Montour finished off a clean rush with a feed from Freddie Gaudreau, and just like that, the Kraken were up 3-1.
For the Leafs, it was another gut punch in a season that’s had more than a few. The body language said it all-frustration, fatigue, and a sense that they just didn’t have answers.
Toronto’s Brief Hope Snuffed Out
Morgan Rielly gave Toronto a flicker of hope early in the third with a power play goal, cutting the deficit to one. But the Kraken didn’t flinch. In fact, they barely gave the Leafs time to reset.
Just over two minutes later, Wright struck again, notching his second of the night and ninth of the season. Jared McCann sealed it with an empty-netter, putting the finishing touch on a dominant performance.
Standings Shake-Up
With the win, Seattle improved to 25-19-9 and jumped into third place in the Pacific Division with 59 points. It’s a big step in a tightly packed playoff race. Meanwhile, the Leafs continue to slide, now sitting 10 points out of a playoff spot in the East-a sobering stat for a team that came into the season with higher expectations.
This was more than just two points for the Kraken. It was a statement: they’re not just hanging around the playoff picture-they’re ready to make noise. And if they keep defending like this, they’re going to be a nightmare for anyone come spring.