The Toronto Maple Leafs showcased their resilience and skill during their latest matchup against the Seattle Kraken, securing a 3-1 victory on February 6, 2025. This game marked the triumphant return of goaltender Anthony Stolarz, who was back after recovering from a knee injury sustained on December 12, 2024.
Stolarz not only returned but did so with remarkable performance, making 26 saves and proving his readiness to rejoin the team after missing eight weeks. "Looked like he didn’t miss a beat," said teammate Philippe Myers, who also contributed to the team's scoring. Myers opened the game with his first goal of the season, helping the Leafs build momentum early.
It was point 7:23 of the first period when Myers' slap shot from the right point deflected off Seattle's Matty Beniers and floated past Kraken goalie Joey Daccord. This goal was particularly poignant for Myers, who hadn’t scored since November 17, 2022, and it came at the perfect moment. He had previously been trying hard to break his scoring drought and was thrilled to see it finally happen. "It obviously felt really good to see [the goal] go in," Myers said.
Bobby McMann doubled the lead for Toronto with his own goal, coming on the power play late in the first. Set up by Morgan Rielly, McMann redirected Rielly's shot from the top of the right circle past Daccord, marking his 17th goal of the season. This goal brought his total to five goals over his last five games, demonstrating his offensive prowess. The Leafs benefited from McMann’s ability to capitalize on chances near the crease, which has been key for their overall success.
Matthew Knies extended the Leafs’ lead to 3-0 early in the second period with his goal reviewed for potential high-sticking, which stood after being confirmed. It was Knies' third consecutive game with a goal, and he displayed skill and determination to get the puck past Daccord. After the game, Stolarz shared his feelings about regaining his spot, stating, "Missing [that much time], you want to come out and have a positive result and get the two points." Stolarz completed this return by accomplishing just what he set out to do.
Despite Toronto's commanding early lead, the Kraken fought back, eventually scoring their only goal of the night through Eeli Tolvanen at 5:43 of the third period. Tolvanen’s shot found its way past Stolarz, briefly cutting Toronto's lead to two goals. This moment, combined with several strong pushes from the Kraken, highlighted their determination and potential to regroup even when faced with adversity.
The game was intense, and physicality was high—especially as the teams battled for line supremacy. Craig Berube, the Maple Leafs' coach, noted the challenging environment due to the numerous penalties throughout the game, which created fluctuations in momentum. Over the course of play, the Leafs’ special teams used their opportunities effectively, with the penalty kill achieving perfect numbers, allowing zero goals on five attempts.
Meanwhile, the power play proved fruitful for the Leafs as they managed to score one goal from three chances, making their special teams performance look solid. McMann’s contributions have become increasingly important as other players also stepped up to keep the energy high. Even after leading, Stolarz and the penalty-kill unit faced down the Kraken’s attempts to capitalize on mistakes.
Mitch Marner also reached personal milestones during the match, achieving his 500th NHL assist with the setup for Myers' opening goal. He became just the fourth player in Maple Leafs history to reach this landmark and did so faster than any other player for the team, highlighting his depth of skill and intelligence on the ice. "I don't normally want solo achievements; it's pretty crazy to think about," Marner expressed after the game.
It was, undoubtedly, a pivotal night for the Maple Leafs, who are now on track to sweep their four-game road trip following two earlier wins against Calgary and Edmonton before this meeting with Seattle. They improved their record to 33-19-2 with this latest success, edging closer to the top position within their division.
Seattle’s loss, their third consecutive one, emphasizes their struggles this season. Coach Dan Bylsma lamented, "I think at times, we’ve been [better] at having a shooting mentality, but we need to get hungrier and dirtier to score goals.” This reflection underlines the need for the Kraken to adjust their approach if they wish to change their fortunes moving forward.
Next up, the Maple Leafs will cap off their road trip against the Vancouver Canucks on February 8, 2025. Meanwhile, the Kraken will host the Calgary Flames. Both teams will look to refine their strategies during this time as they prepare for games leading up to the Four Nations tournament break.
Reflecting on the game, Stolarz’s return was not simply about individual performance but also about stepping up as the entire team works together to find their rhythm, especially as the playoffs approach. With upcoming tournaments featuring NHL players based on national representation, these next few games will be even more significant, drawing attention from both coaches and fans alike.