Jessica: Brandon Montour with the game-winner in the final seconds. That is the kind of grit that defines this team right now.
Mark: And they did it without Jared McCann, Chris Tanev, or half their defensive corps. This was a ugly, beautiful win.
Jessica: Welcome to the Beatline Podcast Network, the home of daily Seattle Kraken hockey. I’m Jessica, and this is your preview show for October 29th, 2026.
Mark: I’m Mark. We are breaking down that wild 5-4 victory over Toronto, looking at the injury report, and getting ready for Calgary.
Jessica: Here is what we have coming up tonight. First, we dissect the late-game heroics from Brandon Montour and why Gavin McKenna’s big night wasn’t enough for Toronto.
Mark: Second, we tackle the elephant in the room: nine players on injured reserve, and how the remaining forwards like Chandler Stephenson and Matty Beniers are carrying the load.
Jessica: And third, we look ahead to Tuesday when the Kraken hit the road in Calgary against the Flames. Let’s get into it.
Jessica: Okay, let’s start with Wednesday night. The Kraken came out of nowhere to beat the Maple Leafs 5-4. It felt chaotic from the first whistle.
Mark: It was absolutely chaotic. But if you look at the box score, Seattle didn’t just get lucky. They won the neutral-zone play more often than not.
Jessica: Right, but the story was obviously Gavin McKenna. The No. 1 overall pick had two goals and an assist. He was dominant.
Mark: He was. Auston Matthews had the assists, so the pressure was on the entire Toronto lineup. But Seattle’s penalty kill held up when it mattered most.
Jessica: And then there was the finish. With thirty-four seconds left, Brandon Montour scored the winner. I remember our predictions last night, Mark.
Mark: I know, I know. I predicted a 2-1 Seattle win with Berkly Catton scoring the winner. And Jessica predicted a 3-2 Toronto loss where Montour still got a point.
Jessica: So Montour got the point, but he got the goal too! Five to four. It spoils McKenna’s first two-goal game. How do you evaluate that defensive effort?
Mark: You evaluate it as resilience. With Ryan Lindgren and Chris Tanev out, the defensive structure was loose. But Joey Daccord made the key saves in the third period.
Jessica: Daccord looked much better than he did against Minnesota. After that 5-1 loss to the Wild, where Kirill Kaprizov scored twenty-six seconds in, this felt like redemption.
Mark: It was. The forecheck was aggressive. Seattle forced turnovers in the offensive zone, which led to those odd-man rushes. That’s what we talked about needing yesterday.
Jessica: So, eight wins and four losses. They sit fourth in the Western Conference. Is this performance sustainable given the roster holes?
Mark: For now, yes. But it’s precarious. You can’t rely on late-game heroics every single night. You need consistent zone entries.
Jessica: Agreed. Let’s move on to the injuries, because this list is staggering. Nine players on injured reserve or out.
Mark: It really is. Jared McCann, Jacob Melanson, Ryan Lindgren, Jake O’Brien, Miles Wood, Chris Tanev, Kirill Marchenko, Nick Blankenburg, Marshall Rifai.
Jessica: That includes three defensemen and five forwards. Who is stepping up for Calgary?
Mark: Chandler Stephenson is leading the team in points and goals. He played center last night, effectively anchoring the top line without McCann.
Jessica: And Matty Beniers? He had the assist last night. We talked about him stabilizing the second line against Toronto.
Mark: He did. Beniers is playing heavy minutes. With Berkly Catton also contributing, the depth chart has been shuffled, but Beniers is holding his own.
Jessica: What about the defensive pairings? Adam Larsson and Ryker Evans are starting. Without Tanev and Lindgren, who is shutting down the top lines?
Mark: It’s a group effort. Cale Fleury and Joshua Mahura are getting looks too. But honestly, it’s about limiting high-danger chances. Daccord can’t be asked to save them all.
Jessica: Joey Daccord and Philipp Grubauer are the goalies. Daccord was solid against Toronto. Do you think he gets the nod in Calgary?
Mark: He should. Momentum matters. If he keeps the crease clean, Seattle stays in games. But the workload is high.
Jessica: Let’s talk about the next opponent. The Calgary Flames. They are 5-7. Seattle is 8-4.
Mark: Calgary is struggling. They are looking to extend a home win streak, but they’ve lost six straight overall. Seattle has the momentum.
Jessica: But the Kraken are on the road. Travel fatigue is real. And the Flames are desperate. How does that change the dynamic?
Mark: Desperation makes teams dangerous. Calgary will likely dump and chase more, trying to create chaos. Seattle needs to stay disciplined in the neutral zone.
Jessica: So, no fancy plays. Just basic structures. Which brings us to our keys to the game.
Jessica: We need to talk about the power play. Seattle’s special teams have been crucial lately. Can they capitalize against Calgary’s penalty kill?
Mark: They have to. With the injury situation, even shifts are longer. Special teams efficiency will decide this game. Stephenson and Beniers need to drive that.
Jessica: And defensively, limiting rebound opportunities. Daccord had some scares against Toronto. Calgary isn’t known for precise shooting, but they volume shoot.
Mark: Exactly. Box out. Clear the lane. If you give Calgary second-chance shots, you’re going to lose. It’s simple hockey.
Jessica: Okay, bold prediction time. We are heading to Calgary. The Flames are 5-7. The Kraken are 8-4.
Mark: I’m going to say Seattle takes care of business. A 3-1 win. Daccord shuts them down, and Stephenson gets a goal and an assist.
Jessica: I’ll go with a tighter game. 2-1 Seattle. I think Calgary scores early, but Montour’s leadership shines through again in the third.
Mark: Montour continues to be the heartbeat of this team despite the injuries.
Jessica: That wraps up our breakdown of the 5-4 win over Toronto and our look ahead to Calgary. Thanks for listening to the Beatline Podcast Network.
Mark: If you enjoyed this deep dive into the Kraken’s gritty performance and injury management, please consider supporting the show.
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Mark: Subscribe, rate, and review wherever you listen. It truly helps more fans find us.
Jessica: Go Kraken!