Tavares had the secondary assist on Nylander’s goal to extend his point streak to six games (three goals, six assists).
“Pretty solid,” Berube said. “I thought before he got sick, he was fine, but the sickness affected him. He lost 10 pounds so it was energy-wise and stuff through three games or more [were affected]. But he’s been heavy on pucks, strong on the puck, heavy stick, doing the little things right, face-offs, all good stuff.”
The Maple Leafs pushed it to 3-0 at 9:24 when Nylander scored from the same spot, this time when Tavares found him with a pass while spinning around on one knee in the slot.
“It’s a bit of a guess,” Tavares said of his pass. “As the play is developing and you get into that spot, you have an idea where guys might be and you just try to put the puck in a good spot and if it doesn’t work out, it gives you a good spot to work to earn it back. But the way developed, I thought him or Patch (Max Pacioretty) would have drifted to that side and I’m happy it worked out.”
Tolvanen cut it to 3-1 at 16:32 of the third period when he shot past Woll's blocker from the slot while on a 6-on-5 advantage with Daccord pulled for an extra skater.
Matthews shot into an empty net at 18:17, banking it off the boards in the neutral zone from his own blue line for the 4-1 final.
“He told me he aced geometry,” Knies joked.
NOTES: Matty Beniers had an assist to extend his point streak to four games (two goals, four assists) … Kraken defenseman Cale Fleury, who was recalled from Coachella Valley of the American Hockey League on Monday, had one shot in 11:47 in his season debut.