The Seattle Kraken and the Toronto Maple Leafs meet in NHL action from Scotiabank Arena on Thursday night. Two teams that could use a win to build some momentum, who goes and gets it? Let’s dive into this Kraken vs. Maple Leafs prediction and find out.
Kraken Fall To Chicago
The Seattle Kraken come into this game looking for a bounce back after a 4-3 loss to the Chicago Blackhawks in their last matchup. Oliver Bjorkstrand and Vince Dunn each have 19 points with Bjorkstrand logging 7 goals and 12 assists while Dunn has a team-high 16 assists this season. Jaden Schwartz and Eeli Tolvanen each have 15 points with Schwartz logging 8 goals and 7 assists while Tolvanen has 5 goals and 10 apples. Jared McCann also has 14 points with a team-high 9 goals this season. Joey Daccord has gone 3-3-5 with a 2.99 GAA and an .895 save percentage in goal for Seattle this season while Philipp Grubauer is 5-7 with a 3.42 GAA and an .881 save percentage this season.
Seattle Kraken Team Facts
- The Kraken have won each of their last three games following a road loss.
- The road team has covered the puck line in 15 of the Kraken’s last 18 games.
- The ‘Over 2.5 Goals Period 1’ market has hit in three of the Kraken’s last four games.
- The Kraken have lost the third period in each of their last six games as underdogs against Atlantic Division opponents.
Maple Leafs Shut Down Panthers
The Toronto Maple Leafs will be looking to build on their 2-1 shootout win over the Florida Panthers in their last matchup. William Nylander leads the Leafs in points with 27 points this season including 12 goals and a team-high 15 assists while Auston Matthews has 21 points with a team-high 14 goals. Mitch Marner has 20 points with 15 assists while John Tavares has 20 points with 7 goals and 13 assists this season. Joseph Woll has posted a 7-5 record with a 2.74 GAA and a .916 save percentage while Ilya Samsonov is 4-1-3 with a 3.58 GAA and an .878 save percentage between the pipes for Toronto this season.
Toronto Maple Leafs Team Facts
- The Maple Leafs have lost five of their last six games as favorites after coming off overtime.
- The underdogs have covered the puck line in 13 of the Maple Leafs’ last 14 games.
- The Maple Leafs have won the third period in each of their last five games at Scotiabank Arena following a shootout win.
- The ‘Over 1.5 Goals Period 1′ market has hit in each of the Maple Leafs’ last six games after coming off overtime.
Matchup/League Facts
- The Toronto Maple Leafs ranks 7th in the league in power play percentage this season (24.19%).
- The Toronto Maple Leafs are one of only three teams to win 5+ games when trailing after Period 1 this season.
- The Seattle Kraken ranks 26th in the league for goals per game this season (2.78).
- The Seattle Kraken ranks 26th in the league for goals against per game this season (3.48).
Kraken vs. Maple Leafs Prediction
I’m backing the Maple Leafs here. I just trust the offense and the goaltending more right now and I just think when you look at the lineups, top to bottom, the Leafs are the better team. Seattle just has not found the same road form that made them the most profitable road team in the NHL last season, and I don’t think they find it here either. Give me Toronto.
