Mitch Marner delivered a spectacular performance with his second career hat trick. He netted the shootout winner, leading the Toronto Maple Leafs to a 4-3 victory over the Seattle Kraken on Thursday night.
Sporting a full shield and cage due to a jaw injury from a puck hit against Florida on Tuesday, Marner broke an eight-game goal drought with his offensive explosion. His previous hat trick was against Detroit on February 26, 2022.
“I haven’t been happy with my game,” Marner said. “I haven’t been my best.”
Auston Matthews also scored in the shootout and contributed two assists, helping Toronto improve to a 12-6-3 record. Joseph Woll made 37 saves.
“There’s more space out there; guys are making plays,” Woll said. “Just trying to enjoy it.”
Jared McCann scored twice for Seattle, while Eeli Tolvanen added a goal. Philipp Grubauer made 25 saves for the Kraken.
“We were the better team … I call it as I see it,” Kraken coach Dave Hakstol said. “Thought we deserved a better outcome.”
Marner initiated the scoring at 6:34 of the first period with a power-play goal off a pass from William Nylander. He then made it 2-0 21 seconds into the second period with a one-timer that deflected in as a Seattle penalty expired.
McCann responded for Seattle with a power-play goal at 3:37 of the second period, narrowing the gap to 2-1.
Marner completed his hat trick with 3:59 left in the second period, scoring his eighth goal of the season on a breakaway pass from Jake McCabe and beating Grubauer with a high shot.
Seattle mounted a comeback in the third period, with Tolvanen scoring off a rush at 6:15 and McCann tying the game with 6:36 remaining.
Woll made several crucial saves in overtime, including a stellar stop against Jordan Eberle, forcing the game into a shootout.
“They’re a hard-forechecking team,” Toronto defenseman Jake McCabe said. “They tilted the ice a little bit. Woller kept us in it.”
Upcoming Games
- Kraken: At Ottawa on Saturday night.
- Maple Leafs: Host Boston on Saturday night.
