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Three Takeaways from Maple Leafs 6-2 Win Over the Kraken

The Toronto Maple Leafs beat the Seattle Kraken 6-2 last night. What were the three takeaways from the game? Can Mitch Marner keep it up?

The Toronto Maple Leafs 6-2 win over the Seattle Kraken was a funny game to watch. It seemed as if the Maple Leafs had all the play on offense, but the shots ended up 25 apiece for each team. It also seemed that the game was never in doubt; and, in truth, it wasn’t. 

In this edition of Maple Leafs’ takeaways, I’ll look at the events of the games to comment on what they mean going forward for the team.

Related: 3 Questions the Maple Leafs Must Answer to Gain Postseason Success

Takeaway One: Mitch Marner Is Getting Even Better

The shorthanded goal that Mitch Marner set up was a thing of beauty. Starting with a great defensive tip away from the Seattle puck-carrier; to a speedy breakaway toward the Seattle goalie; to a complete sell-job on the goalie that the shot would be a back-hander from the far side of the crease; to Marner’s perfectly-placed drop pass to David Kampf for a tap in. Simply beautiful.

Marner has some of the highest on-ice hockey IQ I’ve ever seen. And he augments that IQ with great skill, anticipation, and speed. He knew what he was going to do when he first saw that Kampf was closing in behind him; and, as I say, he sold the play perfectly. 

Auston Matthews Mitch Marner Maple Leafs
Auston Matthews Mitch Marner Maple Leafs

In the end, Marner scored a goal and also registered two assists for a three-point night. Not long ago he was struggling (for him) on the scoresheet with fewer than a single point each game. Now he’s up to 17 goals and 26 assists (for43 points) in 37 games.

Although Marner had his eight-game goal-scoring streak halted Thursday in Calgary and didn’t score against the Canucks in Vancouver during the Maple Leafs’ first two stops on their three-game trip, he still has put up 22 points over his past 11 games. What a turnaround.

Marner’s in great company. He’s only 24 years old, but tonight he scored his 400th NHL point. That makes him only the second player from the 2015 draft year to reach 400 career points. The first player to do so? None other than the Edmonton Oilers’ Connor McDavid.

Takeaway Two: Jack Campbell Stopped the Bleeding with a Good Game

There’s no one harder on himself than Jack Campbell. He’s been struggling lately in goal, and I can only imagine how that eats at him. He should feel better after last night’s game. He stopped 23-of-25 shots in the 6-2 win over the Kraken. 

His team made it easier when it staked him to a lead during the game, but that doesn’t mean that Campbell didn’t have to be on his game. He was tested as often as the Kraken’s two goalies, but he only let in two shots to their six. He was ready when called upon. 

Campbell’s season record is now 22-7-3, with a goals-against-average of 2.38, and a save percentage of .921 in his 34 games. Look for the Maple Leafs to split the net between Campbell and Petr Mrazek over the next while as they get ready for the playoffs.

Takeaway Three: Travis Dermott Seems to Be the Odd Man Out

The Maple Leafs didn’t dress Travis Dermott for last night’s game – again. It looks as if Dermott is not in the Maple Leafs plans for this season and likely not for any season. That’s too bad for Dermott. At one time, there was a lot of promise for the 25-year-old defenseman. However, being a healthy scratch in two straight games puts an exclamation point on his lack of perceived value to the team.

It would seem reasonable to believe that, when this season is over or maybe even before, he’ll be moving to another team. With the news that there’s been some traction in a trade involving Nick Ritchie, with Timothy Liljegren coming on as a rookie defenseman (he scored two assists tonight). I have to wonder if Dermott might be packaged in a trade with the big forward.

Related: Maple Leafs Getting Interest From Teams in a Nick Ritchie Trade

4 Comments

4 Comments

  1. gfinale

    February 15, 2022 at 7:15 am

    Ya but pointing out the goal difference of 6 to 2 as an indicator of how much better Campbell was is flawed. Firstly, the Leafs scored 3 of 6 with special teams and the short handed one was a 2 on 1 where the goalie had no chance. In fact, this is the main point. How many goals should not have got past the goalies, not how many did.

  2. gfinale

    February 15, 2022 at 7:21 am

    When the Leafs get another defenseman before the trade deadline, he will play and Dermott will then be 8th. Dermott is good enough to play in the NHL as a 3rd with a poorer team or one lacking any depth.

  3. Afp1961

    February 15, 2022 at 2:55 pm

    MM is Playing well. 11 goals in last 11 games. Hope he can bring it against the bigger teams. No time to waste and better opportunity than Thursday night against Pens.

    Jack made some key timely saves after his mates gave up numerous turnovers. Hope it is a sign of things to come. I’d play him again against Pittsburgh just to get him some rhythm

    I have been saying this for over a year now but Liljegren is playing well. Another solid 18 MPG and was promoted to pair with Muzzin. No goals against and as icing on the cake added two assists. He is one MAJOR reason why Dermott is now the clear #7. Notwithstanding any of this however I’d still go out and get a solid RHD2 thus allowing Liljegren to remain as the #6 in a rotation with Holl.

  4. Pingback: Maple Leafs Not Adding Big Rental On Defense, Other Options Revealed – Hockey 1 on 1

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