TORONTO (AP) 鈥� Mitch Marner had his second career hat trick and added the shootout winner in the Toronto Maple Leafs' 4-3 victory over the Seattle Kraken on Thursday night.
Wearing a full shield and cage after taking a puck to the jaw against Florida on Tuesday night, Marner ended an eight-game goal drought with the offensive flurry. He also scored three goals against Detroit on Feb. 26, 2022.
鈥淚 haven鈥檛 been happy with my own game,鈥� Marner said. 鈥淗aven鈥檛 been my best.鈥�
Auston Matthews also scored in the shootout and had two assists to help Toronto improve to 12-6-3. Joseph Woll made 37 saves.
鈥淭here鈥檚 more space out there, guys are making plays,鈥� Woll said. 鈥淛ust trying to enjoy it.鈥�
Jared McCann scored twice for Seatttle. Eeli Tolvanen added a goal and Philipp Grubauer stopped 25 shots.
鈥淲e were the better team 鈥� I call it as I see it,鈥� Kraken coach Dave Hakstol said. 鈥淭hought we deserved a better outcome.鈥�
Marner opened the scoring at 6:34 of the first period on a power play off a nice pass from William Nylander. Marner made it 2-0 21 seconds into the second on a one-timer that took a deflection right as a Seattle penalty was expiring.
McCann cut it to 2-1 on a power play at 3:37 of the second.
Marner completed the hat trick with 3:59 left in the second with his eighth goal of the season, taking a breakaway pass from Jake McCabe and beating Grubauer with a high shot.
Seattle rallied in the third, with Tolvanen scoring off a rush at 6:15 and McCann tying it with 6:36 to go.
Woll made three huge stops in the extra period for Toronto, the best on Jordan Eberle to force the shootout.
鈥淭hey鈥檙e a hard forechecking team,鈥� Toronto defenseman Jake McCabe said. 鈥淭hey tilted the ice a little bit. Woller kept us in it.鈥�
UP NEXT
Kraken: At Ottawa on Saturday night.
Maple Leafs: Host Boston on Saturday night.
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The Associated Press
