Giordano scores in Seattle return to help Maple Leafs beat Kraken 5-1

Feb 26, 2023, 7:07 PM

Seattle Kraken center Yanni Gourde (37) tries to score as Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Ilya Samsonov (35) and defenseman Justin Holl (3) defend during the third period of an NHL hockey game Sunday, Feb. 26, 2023, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Jason Redmond)

Seattle Kraken left wing Brandon Tanev (13) tries to score in front of Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Ilya Samsonov (obscured) as Maple Leafs center Ryan O'Reilly (90) and defenseman Justin Holl (3) defend during the second period of an NHL hockey game Sunday, Feb. 26, 2023, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Jason Redmond)

Toronto Maple Leafs center John Tavares (91) reacts after scoring a goal against Seattle Kraken goaltender Philipp Grubauer (31) during the first period of a NHL hockey game Sunday, Feb. 26, 2023, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Jason Redmond)

Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Timothy Liljegren (37) celebrates after scoring a goal as Seattle Kraken center Morgan Geekie (67) skates away during the first period of an NHL hockey game Sunday, Feb. 26, 2023, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Jason Redmond)

Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews (34) scores a goal as Seattle Kraken goaltender Philipp Grubauer (31) and defenseman Will Borgen (3) defend during the second period of an NHL hockey game Sunday, Feb. 26, 2023, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Jason Redmond)

BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

AP staff

SEATTLE (AP) – Auston Matthews had two goals and Mark Giordano scored in his first game back in Seattle since being traded to Toronto last season as the Maple Leafs beat the Kraken 5-1 Sunday.

Maple Leafs 5, Kraken 1: Stats

Timothy Liljegren had a goal and an assist for Toronto, and John Tavares also scored. Mitchel Marner haded three assists; William Nylander and Michael Bunting had two each. Ilya Samsonov made 26 saves.

Vince Dunn scored for Seattle. Phillip Grubauer started and gave up four goals on 21 shots before he was replaced early in the second period by Martin Jones, who had 11 saves.

After Dunn’s 11th goal of the year gave the Kraken a 1-0 lead 3:47 into the game, Giordano tied it just 71 seconds later. Giordano, who served as Seattle’s captain last season until he was traded to Toronto for draft picks last March 20, fired a hard shot from the left faceoff circle that hit Grubauer’s right pad and deflected into the net for his fourth of the year.

Mark….

Geee-or-DAAAAAAAAAN-O!!! pic.twitter.com/lhzP2QqDtf

— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) February 27, 2023

Tavares put the Maple Leafs ahead for good permanently in front at 7:06. Justin Hoff’s hard shot from the right circle bounced off heavy traffic in the goal crease. Nylander got his stick on and poked it over to Tavares in front of the left post and Tavares put it into a wide-open net for his 27th of the season.

Liljegren’s hard wrister from the right circle with 6:09 left in the first extended the lead to 3-1 as Toronto finished the period with a 19-7 advantage in shots. It was his fifth.

Matthews scored at 4:15 of the second to push Toronto’s lead to 4-1 lead and end Grubauer’s night.

Mathews got his second of the game and 28th of the season with 7:29 left in the third to cap the scoring.

NOTES: Marner, who has a team-leading 74 points, now has 54 assists. Sunday was the 142nd multiple-point game of his career, surpassing Ron Ellis for the ninth-most in Maple Leafs history. … Nylander extended his point streak to seven games and now has 19 multi-point games. … Jordan Eberle’s assist on Dunn’s goal for Seattle increased his team-leading total to 34.