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Nylander and Woll Shine as Maple Leafs Overpower Kraken 4-1

In a thrilling NHL faceoff, William Nylander netted two goals while Joseph Woll blocked 24 shots, leading the Toronto Maple Leafs to a decisive 4-1 victory over the Seattle Kraken last Thursday night.

Matthews and Knies Contribute to Maple Leafs Triumph

Matthews Knies and Auston Matthews also found the back of the net, bolstering Toronto’s record to a commendable 6-4-1. Matthews not only scored with a strategic bank-shot empty-netter but also provided an assist. The lone goal for Seattle (5-5-1) came courtesy of Eeli Tolvanen, while Joey Daccord put up a gallant effort, deflecting 26 shots.

The scoring was ignited late in the first period by Knies, followed by Nylander’s double-strike in the second. Tolvanen’s goal, with 3:28 remaining in regulation and with Daccord benched for an extra attacker, was the only hiccup in Woll’s otherwise clean sheet.

Kraken and Maple Leafs: Key Takeaways

The Kraken, already grappling with the absence of Vince Dunn due to an upper-body injury, faced another setback with defenseman Brandon Montour in Seattle for the birth of his second child.

On the Maple Leafs’ side, Knies continued his scoring streak, netting in his third consecutive game and bringing his season tally to six goals. Nylander, however, leads the team with eight goals.

Game-Changing Moment

The momentum of the game shifted dramatically when the Kraken iced the puck with less than 10 seconds left in the first period and the score still at a standstill. Matthews muscled his way to a faceoff victory, passing to Mitch Marner who then set up Knies to finish the exquisite play.

Noteworthy Statistic

John Tavares joined the ranks of only five Toronto players aged 34 or older to have achieved 10 or more points in their initial 10 games of a season in the past 50 years. This notable milestone came courtesy of his assist on Nylander’s first goal.

Looking Ahead

The Kraken are set to play the second of five successive away games on Saturday night in Ottawa. Meanwhile, the Maple Leafs will kick off a two-game road trip in St. Louis on the same night.