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# Recap: The Leafs needle the Kraken
- URL: https://www.pensionplanpuppets.com/recap-the-maple-leafs-needle-the-kraken/
- Published: 2025-02-07T05:55:43.000Z
- Updated: 2025-02-08T02:10:52.000Z
- Description: It was a great game for the Leafs at a terrible time.
- Author: Species
- Tags: Game Coverage

A 10:00 p.m. ET start? Who approved this? Oh and how lovely we get Ontario election ads during the games now. You better not make me regret staying awake to watch this game, Leafs. Here is the Leafs lineup for the night.

> Stolie the goalie is BACK!! [@Molson\_Canadian](https://twitter.com/Molson%5FCanadian?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) | [#LeafsForever](https://twitter.com/hashtag/LeafsForever?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) [pic.twitter.com/SXZ4zl4RBC](https://t.co/SXZ4zl4RBC?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com)
> 
> — Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) [February 7, 2025](https://twitter.com/MapleLeafs/status/1887696494524084704?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=pensionplanpuppets.com)

Anthony Stolarz is back from injury to make his first start since December 12\. Then we have Max Domi on the top line? Who approved this?

### First Period

We are ten seconds into the game and Jake McCabe has injured himself. At least it was only a momentary trip to the locker room to get repairs and he's back out just in time for the Leafs to take a penalty which they successfully kill, and then Holmberg gets the Leafs on the power play as he attempts to fly.

> say what you will about Holmberg's skill, but he draws a lot of penalties [pic.twitter.com/LwjWrfMuq8](https://t.co/LwjWrfMuq8?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com)
> 
> — Omar (@TicTacTOmar) [February 7, 2025](https://twitter.com/TicTacTOmar/status/1887701944300400788?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=pensionplanpuppets.com)

There's no goal on the power play but don't worry, Philippe Myers comes to the rescue and puts the Leafs up 1-0\. It's his first NHL goal since 2022.

> PHILIPPE MYERS 🚨  
>  
> FIRST OF THE SEASON! FIRST AS A LEAF! FIRST SINCE 2022! [pic.twitter.com/jpEakAKhyR](https://t.co/jpEakAKhyR?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com)
> 
> — Omar (@TicTacTOmar) [February 7, 2025](https://twitter.com/TicTacTOmar/status/1887703656876925368?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=pensionplanpuppets.com)

But as soon as Myers giveth, he taketh away.

> and Myers then takes a penalty   
>  
> two minutes for interference [pic.twitter.com/GLFzxG7Dne](https://t.co/GLFzxG7Dne?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com)
> 
> — Omar (@TicTacTOmar) [February 7, 2025](https://twitter.com/TicTacTOmar/status/1887704627421851937?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=pensionplanpuppets.com)

The Leafs kill off that penalty and Anthony Stolarz activates to make a big stop and hold the game at 1-0.

> Stolarz is back [pic.twitter.com/11QCxQmVOi](https://t.co/11QCxQmVOi?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com)
> 
> — Omar (@TicTacTOmar) [February 7, 2025](https://twitter.com/TicTacTOmar/status/1887705623824871791?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=pensionplanpuppets.com)

The Leafs get a four minute power play after Morgan Rielly gets a high stick to the face. The Leafs are aggressive though D'Accord is having a great night in net too and keeps the puck out in the last few minutes of the period, though the post should get some credit for this one too.

> great chance for Tavares hits the post [pic.twitter.com/VHynE9t2SH](https://t.co/VHynE9t2SH?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com)
> 
> — Omar (@TicTacTOmar) [February 7, 2025](https://twitter.com/TicTacTOmar/status/1887708947488141434?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=pensionplanpuppets.com)

But eventually the Leafs set it up, and Bobby McMann gets his 17th goal of the year.

> BOBBY MCMANN 🚨  
>  
> Goals in three straight! [pic.twitter.com/pCvcYJD70g](https://t.co/pCvcYJD70g?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com)
> 
> — Omar (@TicTacTOmar) [February 7, 2025](https://twitter.com/TicTacTOmar/status/1887709347628699702?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=pensionplanpuppets.com)

OK so far so good. It's 11:00 p.m. and I do not regret staying up for this. But there's still 40 minutes of game time to come (dramatic music).

### Second Period

The Leafs power play continues to start the period but nothing comes of it. Then there's some traffic control problems and Marner and Nylander get mixed up on a line change causing a Too Many Men penalty so now they go back on the penalty kill.

> too many Leafs [pic.twitter.com/EfHSREuH0F](https://t.co/EfHSREuH0F?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com)
> 
> — Omar (@TicTacTOmar) [February 7, 2025](https://twitter.com/TicTacTOmar/status/1887715674539061525?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=pensionplanpuppets.com)

Stolarz remains on top of things through the first half of the period. Would be nice if the Leafs could go on the offensive more here and not make him work so hard.

> \*chefs kiss\* [pic.twitter.com/60J0CHHf4M](https://t.co/60J0CHHf4M?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com)
> 
> — Omar (@TicTacTOmar) [February 7, 2025](https://twitter.com/TicTacTOmar/status/1887717168592068933?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=pensionplanpuppets.com)

And then...

FACEPUNCHING!

> Benoit vs Bjorkstrand [pic.twitter.com/mnMiJ9bH8n](https://t.co/mnMiJ9bH8n?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com)
> 
> — Omar (@TicTacTOmar) [February 7, 2025](https://twitter.com/TicTacTOmar/status/1887720180861595776?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=pensionplanpuppets.com)

So then the big controversy of the game comes. Matthew Knies deflects a puck into the net, and it appears to be obviously with his stick above the crossbar, which would invalidate the goal, but the call on the ice was a good goal. They did a video review of the play, but there was no camera angle available that definitely would show that his stick was too high at the moment the puck hit it, so it stood and the Leafs went up 3-0.

> The Knies goal is being challenged for a high stick [pic.twitter.com/ct1cfjb6tb](https://t.co/ct1cfjb6tb?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com)
> 
> — Omar (@TicTacTOmar) [February 7, 2025](https://twitter.com/TicTacTOmar/status/1887720743351292157?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=pensionplanpuppets.com)

As the minutes wind down Nick Robertson really wants to score, but can't, which sounds like another repetitive chapter in his season-to-date.

> good chance for Robertson but he loses the puck [pic.twitter.com/C4wz2Yl2tC](https://t.co/C4wz2Yl2tC?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com)
> 
> — Omar (@TicTacTOmar) [February 7, 2025](https://twitter.com/TicTacTOmar/status/1887723711895064989?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=pensionplanpuppets.com)

The Leafs tick off the box and keep control up 3-0 at the end of the second period. We're coming up on midnight here at Species Basement Bistro and Uranium Refinery in Toronto. Don't disappoint me and blow this, Leafs!

### Third Period

Willy really wants to score again here but the puck is slippery and he can't get off a shot.

The Kraken are finally released and they get on the board.

> Eeli Tolvanen beats Stolarz and puts Seattle on the board [pic.twitter.com/lrWKFjHTkZ](https://t.co/lrWKFjHTkZ?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com)
> 
> — Omar (@TicTacTOmar) [February 7, 2025](https://twitter.com/TicTacTOmar/status/1887731473983168607?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=pensionplanpuppets.com)

Are you still awake? I'm still awake. I'm totally awake! 

Leafs are still up 3-1 but now the Kraken have been released on the power play though the Leafs get some great short-handed chances, but ultimately it ends with the game still at 3-1 for the Leafs. Stolarz remains stellar.

> huge positional save for Stolarz [pic.twitter.com/Ed7e9rdhUH](https://t.co/Ed7e9rdhUH?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com)
> 
> — Omar (@TicTacTOmar) [February 7, 2025](https://twitter.com/TicTacTOmar/status/1887735104803398106?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=pensionplanpuppets.com)

As the game is winding down Auston Matthews gets the obligatory non-penalty penalty.

> karma I guess, but Montour got hit by his own stick lol  
>  
> that's not a penalty [pic.twitter.com/oWwOf1uhqm](https://t.co/oWwOf1uhqm?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com)
> 
> — Omar (@TicTacTOmar) [February 7, 2025](https://twitter.com/TicTacTOmar/status/1887738336447479821?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=pensionplanpuppets.com)

And the game ends with a non-goal for Willy. He tried so hard to score but couldn't get it off in time.

Well that's it folks. I hope those of you in Ontario enjoyed staying up until 12:45 to watch the game. I've got a second wind now. Is there another game I can watch? Oh, right, it's Thursday and I have to be at work in about six hours. That's going to be fun.

> big hugs for the first game back [pic.twitter.com/ytNPVmGwjJ](https://t.co/ytNPVmGwjJ?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com)
> 
> — Omar (@TicTacTOmar) [February 7, 2025](https://twitter.com/TicTacTOmar/status/1887740207228666131?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=pensionplanpuppets.com)

Here's the 5-on-5 shot blotter. The Leafs really don't look that great here.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/34/01/3401a938-f468-4c02-a227-9bc4cc09bad4/content/images/2025/02/20242025-20869-5v5.png)

Next game is Saturday in Vancouver at the proper time of 7:00 p.m. ET!