The Toronto Maple Leafs and Seattle Kraken come into tonight’s matchup on the opposite ends of dramatic finishes last time out as the clubs continue to trend in different directions.
The Leafs topped the Wild on Friday thanks to a solo effort from William Nylander in overtime, while the Kraken fell 6-5 to the Bruins on Thursday after blowing a lead late in the third.
Can Seattle can regroup after two straight losses or will Toronto earn its third consecutive win? We discuss in our Maple Leafs vs Wild NHL picks and predictions for Sunday, February 26 below.
Maple Leafs vs Kraken best odds
Maple Leafs vs Kraken picks and predictions
The Toronto Maple Leafs didn’t play great hockey Friday night but kept the train rolling as they improved to 3-1-0 since acquiring Ryan O’Reilly from the Blues on February 17. Toronto had been piling up the goals, with 21 tallies in four games prior to Friday’s contest against Minnesota, but managed just two in the overtime win.
William Nylander, who netted the winner with an incredible solo effort, factored on both of Toronto’s goals and is up to a team-leading 33 tallies through 59 games – just one shy of his career-high established last season.
The winger enters Sunday on a six-game point streak, accumulating five goals and six assists over that span – needless to say, he’ll likely continue to be an offensive catalyst for the Leafs tonight.
The Seattle Kraken, meanwhile, have cooled off since returning from the All-Star break, picking up just three wins over their last nine outings. Seattle ranks fifth in goals per game (3.48) coming into Sunday but is averaging just 2.78 goals during its nine-game downswing, with 10 of their 25 tallies coming against the lowly Flyers.
Seattle has been able to outscore most of its problems this season but now that the goals have slowed down, the team’s lacklustre goaltending has been exposed. As of Saturday evening, it had not been announced who would be taking the net tonight, but both Philipp Grubauer and Martin Jones have been pretty poor this month, putting up .893 and .846 save percentages, respectively.
Based on Nylander’s hot hand and Seattle’s struggles between the pipes, all signs point to the Maple Leafs winger finding the back of the net once more Sunday night.
My best bet: William Nylander to score a goal (+130)
Looking to bet on some Leafs action? Join Sports Interaction, the best in Canada for new bettors.
Maple Leafs vs Kraken moneyline analysis
The Maple Leafs and Kraken don’t have much of a history given that Seattle joined the league only last season but Toronto does have the slight edge, taking two of the three meetings. Seattle did come out on top in their only matchup this season, though, in a decisive 5-1 win in TO on January 5.
Nevertheless, the Leafs come into Sunday as the road favorite, opening at -141 on the moneyline. While Seattle’s been a great Cinderella story this year, going from 30th overall in its inaugural season to battling for a playoff spot, it’s hard to bet against a powerhouse Toronto team that ranks fourth in the league and only got better with the addition of O’Reilly.
A couple of trends seem to back up the books as well – the Maple Leafs are 5-1 in their last six games against the Pacific Division and 5-1 in their last six contests vs. winning teams.
In fact, four of Toronto’s last five defeats have come against teams that rank in the Bottom 10 overall, so we should expect the Maple Leafs to bring their A-game against a capable Kraken squad that will be hungry for a win.
Maple Leafs vs Kraken Over/Under analysis
The Leafs have cashed the Over in five of their last eight outings while the Over is 4-2-1 in the Kraken’s last seven contests and 4-0-1 in their last five games against Eastern Conference opposition. The Over is also 2-1 in the three meetings between the two teams, with their last matchup coming just a goal shy of clearing the 6.5-goal total.
On the other hand, Seattle actually tends to play lower-scoring games against tough opponents as the Under is 11-2 in the Kraken’s last 13 games vs. teams with a winning percentage above .600. While that’s certainly a useful season-long trend, it doesn’t necessarily reflect what we’ve seen from the Kraken of late.
The major determining factor in whether these teams will clear the Over at 6.5 goals is likely Seattle’s goaltending, which we know has been shaky for a few weeks now. Jones has given up at least four goals in four straight outings, while Grubauer has been a bit better, allowing just under three goals per game through his last six starts.
Given the strong offenses on both sides, question marks in the Kraken net, and some high-scoring games between these teams in the past, I'm leaning toward the Over.
Maple Leafs vs Kraken betting trend to know
The Over is 4-1 in Toronto’s last five after allowing two goals or less in their previous game. Find more NHL betting trends for Maple Leafs vs Kraken.
Maple Leafs vs Kraken game info
| Location: | Climate Pledge Arena, Seattle, WA |
| Date: | Sunday, February 26, 2023 |
| Puck drop: | 7:00 p.m. ET |
| TV: | Sportsnet, Root Sports |
Maple Leafs vs Kraken key injuries
