The Toronto Maple Leafs vs Kraken Wednesday matchup brings two teams moving in opposite directions after their last outings into Climate Pledge Arena. Toronto arrives at 7-5-2 after dropping its most recent game 5-2 to the Calgary Flames, while Seattle sits at 7-4-1 following a 5-1 loss to the Minnesota Wild. Puck drop is set for 10 p.m. ET, and the biggest question entering the night is whether Toronto’s top-ranked offense can keep producing against a Kraken team that has alternated wins and losses over its last five games.
Maple Leafs Vs Kraken Game Information
- Date: Wednesday, Oct. 28
- Time: 10 p.m. ET
- Venue: Climate Pledge Arena, Seattle, WA
- TV/Streaming: ESPN+, KONG, KING 5, KHN, Prime Video (Local)
- Series: Season series starts Oct. 28
Can Toronto’s Offense Keep Rolling After The Calgary Loss?
The Maple Leafs scored 21 goals across their four wins before Monday’s loss to the Flames, a stretch detailed in Toronto’s hot-streak preview and the recap of that 5-2 defeat in Calgary. Auston Matthews leads the team in goals (9), assists (11) and points (20), and Toronto’s 52 goals and 400 shots on the season both outpace Seattle’s totals of 43 goals and 314 shots. The Leafs also hold a 13.0% shooting percentage and have scored 13 power-play goals, more than Seattle’s nine.
What Does Seattle Need To Fix On Defense?
The Kraken have allowed 42 goals against on 382 shots faced, posting a .895 team save percentage and a 3.50 goals-against average, both worse than Toronto’s .900 save percentage and 3.21 goals-against mark. Seattle’s last five games have been a split of wins and losses, including an 8-3 loss at Florida and a 5-3 win over Utah Mammoth sandwiched around a shootout win over Detroit. Frederick Gaudreau leads Seattle in goals with six, while Kaapo Kakko paces the team in assists (8) and points (10).
Who Are The Projected Starting Goalies?
Sergei Bobrovsky is listed as the probable starter for Toronto, while Philipp Grubauer is the probable starter for Seattle, according to the official data. Both designations remain projections until puck drop. Toronto’s goaltending tandem has combined for a .900 save percentage this season, compared to Seattle’s .895 mark, a gap that could factor into how each team’s defense manages its workload.
How Do The Injury Reports Compare?
Toronto is without center John Tavares, who is on injured reserve with a lower-body injury, a situation first detailed when he was ruled week to week with the injury. The Leafs also have center Dakota Joshua (abdomen), defenseman Nick Blankenburg (upper body) and defenseman Marshall Rifai (lower body) on injured reserve, while winger Kirill Marchenko is listed day-to-day with a lower-body injury and a return date of Oct. 28. Seattle’s injury list includes left wing Jared McCann (lower body), right wing Jacob Melanson (chest), defenseman Ryan Lindgren (upper body) and center Jake O’Brien (lower body), all on injured reserve.
By The Numbers
- Goals: Toronto 52, Seattle 43
- Points (team): Toronto 142, Seattle 114
- Shots on goal: Toronto 400, Seattle 314
- Shooting percentage: Toronto 13.0%, Seattle 13.7%
- Save percentage: Toronto .900, Seattle .895
- Goals against average: Toronto 3.21, Seattle 3.50
- Power-play goals: Toronto 13, Seattle 9
- Faceoff percentage: Toronto 52.2%, Seattle 52.2%
- Penalty minutes: Toronto 144, Seattle 128
Key Matchup: Leafs’ Attack Against Kraken’s Goals Against
Toronto’s 52 goals scored against Seattle’s 42 goals allowed sets up the clearest storyline of the night. The Leafs have reached that total despite missing Tavares down the middle, with Matthews carrying the offensive load and the power play converting 13 times already. Seattle’s penalty kill and even-strength defense will need to tighten up after allowing 42 goals through 12 games, a figure that climbed with the 8-3 loss at Florida and the 5-1 defeat to Minnesota. How Grubauer handles Toronto’s shot volume, which sits 86 shots ahead of Seattle’s total, could determine whether the Kraken can slow a Leafs team that just posted four straight wins before Calgary.
What To Watch
Both teams sit in playoff positioning battles within tight divisions. Toronto is third in the Atlantic Division with 16 points, one point behind Ottawa and three behind Boston. Seattle sits third in the Pacific Division with 15 points, trailing Edmonton (18) and Vegas (17).
A Leafs win would keep pace in a crowded Atlantic race, while a Kraken win would pull Seattle closer to the top of the Pacific standings. Toronto’s next matchup and Seattle’s next game will follow this contest as both clubs continue their road and home stretches through the rest of October.
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