Nylander leads Leafs past `short-handed' Kraken

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After scoring a season-high eight goals against the Montreal Canadiens earlier in the week the Seattle Kraken could only muster one goal against the Toronto Maple Leafs – that coming with four minutes remaining in the game – dropping a 4-1 decision last night at Scotiabank Arena.

The contest was the second of a five-game road trip for the Kraken who fall to 5-5-1 on the season. Seattle was without the services of its top offensive defensemen – Brandon Montour and Vince Dunn.

Montour, who recorded a hat trick against the Canadiens, left the team to join his wife for the birth of their second child. Dunn, who’s on the long-term injured reserved list with an upper-body injury (believed to be a cranky shoulder which has bothered him since last season), is tentatively listed to return on Oct. 12.

``It sucks to have big names and a big part of our team out of the lineup,” said Kraken forward Eeli Tolvanen who recorded the only Seattle goal, his fourth of the season. ``But in the time I’ve been here, it’s always been next man up.”

The Leafs’ Matthew Knies opened the scoring with only five seconds left in the first period. The score came off a faceoff in the Kraken defensive zone.

“The faceoff at the end of the period dented what was a pretty good period from our team and kind of rolled,” said Kraken head coach Dan Bylsma. “We get down in the first with that faceoff goal with four seconds left, and that’s a big, big hurt.”

William Nylander added two second-period goals, both goals coming when the Kraken defense left him unguarded to the right of the net. Toronto captain Auston Matthews added an empty net goal in the final two minutes of the contest.

Much of Toronto’s scoring comes from its top five scorers – Matthews, Nylander, Knies, John Tavares and Mitch Marner. So, Bylsma wasn’t surprised that Nylander scored but showed disappointment in the defense.

``Did we circle No. 88 (Nylander) at the beginning of the game? Yeah, we did,” said Bylsma. ``And twice, we let him find open space and do what he can do. And he made us pay for it tonight. That’s not an individual thing. That’s a team thing. You just can’t let one or two mistakes dictate the pace of the game. And tonight, we made some mistakes and gave them some opportunities.”

``I thought we played well,” said Kraken netminder Joey Daccord, playing his fourth consecutive game and ranked 14th in save percentage in the NHL. ``We had spurts in the second and third period where we were taking it to them. If we were able to find one or two (goals) it could have been a different story.”

One of those spurts came in the third period when Tolvanen fired home a ten-footer with Shane Wright and Jaden Schwartz screening in front. The score was reminiscent of the goals the Kraken were scoring against Montreal earlier in the week, but the Leafs played a stronger defensive game. Tolvanen’s score spoiled Joseph Woll’s shutout bid. The Toronto netminder was the number-two star of the game.

The Kraken continue their road trip with games in Ottawa on Saturday night and Boston, Sunday afternoon.

Scoring Summary

First Period

T- Matthew Knies (Mitch Marner, Auston Matthews) 19:55.

Second Period

T- William Nylander (Morgan Rielly, John Tavares) 1:39. T- Nylander (Taveras, Max Pacioretty) 9:24.

Third Period

S- Eeli Tolvanen 4 (Ryker Evans 4, Matty Beniers 5) 16:32. T- Matthews (unassisted) empty net 18:17.,

Shots on Goal- Seattle 25 (Jared McCann 5), Toronto (William Nylander 6).

Hits- Seattle 30 (Tye Kartye 8), Toronto (Mas Pacioretty 7).

Blocked Shots- Seattle (Jared Evans 4), Toronto (5 players with 2).

Faceoffs- Seattle 44.4%, Toronto 55.6.

Three Stars- 1. William Nylander. T. 2. Joseph Woll, T. 3. John Tavares.

Referees- Eric Furlatt, Mike Markovic. Linesmen- Derek Nanson, Jonathan Deschamps.

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