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Stefan Tonev
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Maple Leafs thrash Kraken 5-1 for second time this year
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Seattle won just three games since the All-Star break

Reigning Hart Trophy winner Auston Matthews scored twice, and Mark Giordano has a goal in his first game back in Seattle since being traded to Toronto last season as the Maple Leafs beat the Kraken 5-1 in front of 17,151 spectators at Climate Pledge Arena on Sunday.

The Maple Leafs reversed last month’s result in Toronto, when the Kraken came away with a 5-1 victory.

“Last time we played these guys, they were leading the league in goals, so we knew what to expect,” Toronto coach Sheldon Keefe said.

“If you look at a lot of different areas statistically, we might have played a better game at home when we lost 5-1. The difference today is we scored early and got a good lead. Last time, we played well, but didn’t score, and we gave up some really good looks.”

Timothy Liljegren had a goal and an assist for Toronto, and John Tavares also scored. Mitchel Marner had a three assists – he now has 54 assists on the year, which is top five in the NHL.

William Nylander and Michael Bunting had two each. Ilya Samsonov made 26 saves.

The Kraken have now won just three games since the All-Star break and have fallen to the bottom of the playoff picture. It’s the first time since December 31 that the Kraken have been below .600 in points percentage in the standings.

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.

“Our response to their first goal, again, wasn’t good enough,” Kraken coach Dave Hakstol said.

“Our energy at the start of the game was good, but we have to have a better response and have to be stiffer When a tough goal goes in, we have to be stiffer than that – not just the next two shifts, but for the rest of the period.”

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.

In the second period, Girodano got his skate on a shot by Seattle’s Carson Soucy to set a record with his 2,045th career block. The old mark of 2,044 was by former Calgary teammate Kris Russell. Blocked shots have been recorded by the NHL since 2005-06.

“It’s something I’m definitely proud of. It shows that you care and try to do the right thing for the team,” Giordano said.

“You think about it (getting the record), and it’s something in the back of your mind. It’s not a glamorous record by any means, but I think it speaks to playing a long time and playing hard and playing the right way. I don’t take it lightly.”

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