Maple Leafs vs. Kraken Preview: Toronto Looks to Reset After Calgary Loss
Toronto visits Seattle after a 5-2 defeat, with both teams managing uneven defensive results and several key Leafs listed week-to-week.
Toronto and Seattle arrive at Climate Pledge Arena looking for a response after each lost its most recent game. The Maple Leafs fell 5-2 to Calgary on October 26; the Kraken were beaten 5-1 by Minnesota at home on October 24. Seattle has the stronger points percentage so far, but its early defensive results leave room for Toronto to find openings.
The game is scheduled for 10:00 p.m. at Climate Pledge Arena. Listed viewing options are SNO, Prime Video, KING and KONG. The regional details can be hard to pin down: Prime is described here as Kraken regional coverage that may be geoblocked around Seattle, while SNO is listed for Ontario television and SN+ for subscribers elsewhere. KING and KONG appear to be separate IPTV channels. Treat those details as the best available guide, rather than a guarantee of access in every location.
Seattle’s record masks a five-on-five problem
The Kraken enter at 7-4-1, with a points percentage of .625. Toronto is 7-5-2, at .571. Those records put Seattle ahead early in the standings, though the underlying five-on-five assessment in the source paints a less comfortable picture: the Kraken have been notably poor at even strength, and their results in that area have been worse than Toronto’s and Winnipeg’s. Both Toronto and Winnipeg are described as part of a crowded group near the league’s middle.
Seattle has produced at an average rate and its power play has been average, but it has also allowed the league’s second-highest pace of expected goals against. That points to a team giving opponents too many dangerous looks, even while its record has held up. The Leafs have recently addressed problems in their own play, offering Seattle a possible example of how defensive results can improve. Whether the Kraken can make a similar adjustment is one of the more revealing threads in this matchup.
The source credits Seattle with average goaltending across all situations, while distinguishing Philipp Grubauer’s play from Joey Daccord’s: Grubauer has been good, Daccord has not. Grubauer is projected to start against Toronto. That makes his performance especially relevant if the Kraken’s five-on-five coverage gives the Leafs room to test him.
Projected Kraken combinations
The combinations below were reported by Daily Faceoff from a recent practice. They offer a look at the possible setup, but practice combinations can change before puck drop.
Bobby McMann - Matty Beniers - Jordan Eberle
Jani Nyman - Chandler Stephenson - Mackie Samoskevich
Kaapo Kakko - Berkly Catton - Shane Wright
Ben Meyers - Frederick Gaudreau - Ryan Winterton
Vince Dunn - Adam Larsson
Ryker Evans - Brandon Montour
Joshua Mahura - Cale Fleury
Philipp Grubauer is the projected starter, with Joey Daccord listed as the other goaltender.
Toronto’s crease and injury picture
There has been concern about Sergei Bobrovsky, but the comparison in the source suggests the Leafs’ two goaltenders have delivered similar results so far. Among 47 goalies with at least five games played, they rank 20th and 21st in MoneyPuck’s rated goals saved above expected. That places both around the middle of the group, rather than supporting a sharp split between them. Bobrovsky is listed as Toronto’s likely starter, with Anthony Stolarz behind him.
The Leafs’ injury list includes several players marked week-to-week. A post by Terry Koshan reported lower-body injuries for Marchenko, John Tavares and Rifai, and an upper-body injury for Blankenburg. Chris Tanev was listed day-to-day with an upper-body injury. Joshua was reported as recalled from a conditioning loan and remained on LTIR in the accompanying update. Tanev had also reportedly changed out of his red no-contact practice jersey, a development that suggests a change in his practice status; it does not, on its own, confirm his availability for the game.
Injury updates from the #Leafs:
— Terry Koshan 🇺🇦 (@koshtorontosun) October 28, 2026
Marchenko -- lower body, week-to-week
Joshua -- recalled from conditioning loan
Blankenburg -- upper body, week-to-week
Tanev -- upper body, day-to-day
Tavares -- lower body, week-to-week
Rifai -- lower body, week-to-week
Projected Leafs combinations and the matchup
Toronto’s morning-skate combinations put Gavin McKenna with Auston Matthews and Jack Roslovic, while Easton Cowan is alongside Nick Paul and William Nylander. The other listed forward lines are Bo Groulx, Colton Sissons and Vinni Lettieri, followed by Brandon Duhaime, Teddy Blueger and Zack MacEwen.
Jake McCabe is paired with Darren Raddysh, Morgan Rielly with Troy Stecher, and Dakota Mermis with Oliver Ekman-Larsson. Those are the reported practice combinations, with Bobrovsky likely to start.
Toronto’s clearest opportunity is to make Seattle’s five-on-five defensive issues matter on the scoreboard. The Leafs will need to create pressure without losing their own structure, particularly with several players’ availability uncertain. For Seattle, a strong start from Grubauer and tighter coverage could help turn a good early record into a more convincing performance. Both teams have a recent defeat to answer; the game may hinge on which side gives its goaltender the cleaner night.
