TORONTO – This first Kraken visit to a Canadian “Original Six” market typifies differences in pressure faced by the NHL’s newest franchise compared to one of its oldest.
The 102-year-old Toronto Maple Leafs have won the second-most Stanley Cup championships but haven’t even been to the finals since 1967. And the Leafs staging a third-period comeback to hand the Kraken a 6-4 defeat Tuesday night will provide the home side but a fleeting respite from fans of worn-and-weary “Leafs Nation” and their unrelenting angst.
Toronto struck for two goals by Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner 40 seconds apart midway through the third to transform a one-goal Kraken lead into their 10th loss in the last 11 games. Matthews would later complete a hat trick with an empty-net goal after Philipp Grubauer was pulled for the extra attacker late.
