The Seattle Kraken (23-28-4) are set to close out their five-game home stretch tonight against the perennial playoff contenders, the Toronto Maple Leafs (32-19-2). Coming off a tough shootout loss to the Detroit Red Wings—where Seattle was forced to play catchup the entire game—the Kraken will be looking to turn their recent fortunes around. While the game was competitive, penalties once again proved to be a thorn in Seattle’s side; cleaning them up will be critical if the Kraken are to win close contests.
On the offensive side, Seattle’s top line has been on fire over the past month, posting some of the best even-strength metrics in the league. Jaden Schwartz, Matty Beniers, and Kaapo Kakko have displayed impressive chemistry, creating scoring opportunities and making key plays when it matters most. Their recent production offers a bright spot in an otherwise challenging season, and tonight they will be expected to lead the charge against a Maple Leafs squad known for its potent offense.
A notable storyline heading into tonight’s matchup is the goaltending situation. After sending Philipp Grubauer down to the AHL amid a string of struggles, the Kraken have relied on Joey Daccord to keep them in every game. However, with just two games left before the All-Star Break, there is growing curiosity about rookie Ales Stezka, who was called up but has yet to see NHL action. While Joey has proven his mettle time and again, tonight might provide the first real test of whether Stezka can handle the pressure at the top level.
As puck drop approaches at 7:00 PM PT, the Kraken will look to erase the sting of recent near-misses, tighten up their penalty minutes, and leverage their hot top line to secure a much-needed win against Toronto.