Toronto Maple Leafs @ Seattle Kraken
10:00 PM at Climate Pledge Arena
Watch on: ESPN+, HULU, TVAS, SNO

The Leafs last game was at home on January 27 against the Buffalo Sabres, which Toronto lost by a score of 7-4 in regulation. The Leafs have a record of 24-20-9 for a 0.538 Points %.

The Seattle Kraken last played at home on January 27 against the Washington Capitals. The Kraken won by a score of 5-1 in regulation, and their current league record is 24-19-9 for a 0.548 Points %.

Them

The Kraken have almost the identical record to the Leafs which puts them in contention for a wild card playoff slot along with a smaller list of other teams than you get in the east.

They have the identical Corsi % and are just slightly worse by xG, but they get to those percentages by different paths. The Kraken have the worst offensive xG pace in the NHL while Toronto is just really bad. Seattle is slightly better at xG against. This is a distinction without a significant difference, however.

Their power play is tepid, and they haven't been profoundly lucky there, while their PK is bad and their actual goals allowed per 60 leads the NHL. The Leafs have been trending towards better in both special teams, so that's the first major point of difference.

Their goalies have been a mixed bag, with Joey Daccord as the picture of average, Philipp Grubauer a little better, and Matt Murray gloriously brilliant in five games until he got hurt.

Lines

Last Game (2026-01-27) via Daily Faceoff

Jared McCann - Matty Beniers - Jordan Eberle
Berkly Catton - Chandler Stephenson - Eeli Tolvanen
Jaden Schwartz - Shane Wright - Kaapo Kakko
Ryan Winterton - Frederick Gaudreau - Jacob Melanson

Vince Dunn - Adam Larsson
Jamie Oleksiak - Brandon Montour
Ryan Lindgren - Ryker Evans

Joey Daccord - likely starter
Philipp Grubauer

Us

No one sets out to be the twin of the Kraken, but here we are.

William Nylander skated as an extra today with Jacob Quillan (who would have to come off the roster to make room for him) so it looks like his debut will not be tonight. But this was his first full participation in a practice or skate.

If this changes, we'll likely notice at gametime.

Lines

From morning skate:

Bobby McMann - Auston Matthews - Max Domi
Matias Maccelli - John Tavares - Matthew Knies
Nicholas Robertson - Nicolas Roy - Calle Järnkrok
Steven Lorentz - Scott Laughton - Easton Cowan

Morgan Rielly - Brandon Carlo
Jake McCabe - Oliver Ekman-Larsson
Simon Benoit - Troy Stecher

Anthony Stolarz -starter
Joe Woll

The Game

This might not be a popular opinion because hate watching is so en vogue, but I'd like the team to play well, to feel joy in the game, pride in themselves and to make the playoffs just for the hell of it.

Why not give it a whirl?

Game Coverage