The Kraken made a little history on home ice last night-and they did it with style, grit, and a healthy dose of offensive firepower. Let’s break it down.
First things first: Seattle finally earned points at home against Toronto for the first time in franchise history. That’s a milestone moment, and it came in a game that showcased the kind of balanced, opportunistic hockey that’s becoming a signature of this group.
One of the key storylines? The Kraken’s ability to punch back.
**For the sixth time this season, Seattle answered an opposing goal with a pair of their own-and they’re now a perfect 6-0-0 in games where that happens. ** That kind of resilience isn’t just a stat; it’s a mentality.
A team that can respond like that is one that believes in its structure and knows how to stay composed under pressure.
**Matty Beniers got things rolling with the opening goal, assisted by Jared McCann. ** That tally marked Beniers’ tenth goal of January-a new franchise record for goals in a single month.
And McCann? That helper was his 18th of the month, which also sets a new high-water mark in Kraken history.
The two have been in sync all month, and their chemistry is paying off in a big way.
Later in the game, McCann added an empty-net goal to tie Beniers with 10 goals apiece in January, making them co-leaders for the most goals in a calendar month by any Kraken player. When your top guys are producing like that, it gives everyone else room to breathe-and confidence to follow suit.
**Shane Wright had himself a night, too. ** The young center notched two goals for his first multi-goal game of the season and the fifth of his career.
And just like earlier this year, both of his multi-point games this season have come against the Leafs. Toronto might want to keep a closer eye on No. 51 next time around.
Wright’s line-with Jaden Schwartz and Kaapo Kakko-was also Seattle’s most effective trio at even strength. They tilted the ice with a plus-1 shot attempt differential and controlled 65.3% of the 5-on-5 shot quality.
That’s not just good-it’s dominant. When a line is creating that kind of pressure, it often means they’re spending more time in the offensive zone than their own end, and that was certainly the case here.
In net, Joey Daccord delivered again. He saved just under a full goal above expected and picked up his 17th quality start of the season. Daccord continues to be a steadying presence between the pipes, and performances like this one are a big reason Seattle is staying competitive in tight games.
Freddy Gaudreau hit a personal milestone, skating in his 450th NHL game-and he made it count with the primary assist on Brandon Montour’s game-winning goal. That’s the kind of veteran contribution teams rely on in big moments.
Jacob Melanson brought the physical edge, leading the game with seven hits and showing off his transition game with six controlled entries and ten controlled exits. That’s the kind of two-way hustle that doesn’t always show up on the scoresheet but makes a big difference over 60 minutes.
And when it came to overall impact, the top Game Score performers were Montour, Wright, Schwartz, Jamie Oleksiak, and Nick Robertson-a mix of veterans and rising stars, all stepping up when it mattered most.
This was one of those games where the numbers tell the story of a team firing on all cylinders-offense, defense, goaltending, and special teams all clicking. The Kraken didn’t just make history against the Leafs-they made a statement.