The NHL’s Winter Classic arrived in Seattle for the first time on Monday as the Kraken hosted the Vegas Golden Knights in a battle of the league’s two newest teams. A total of 47,313 would see the Kraken defeat Vegas 3-0 in the first shutout in Winter Classic history.
Seattle would open the scoring 4:50 into the period when Eeli Tolvanen put it home on a tip-in with assists to Vince Dunn and Adam Larsson.
In the second period, the Kraken would extend their lead early just 2:19 into the period when Will Borgen hammered it home on a slap shot with Tye Kartye and Tolvanen picking up the assists. The Kraken would hold their 2-0 lead over the Golden Knights going into the second break. Shots on goal would end tied at 21 each.
The third period saw the Kraken once again strike early just 2:10 into the period when Yanni Gourde put it home unassisted on a wrist shot.
The key to success for the Kraken ultimately seemed to be scoring early to get the early momentum and make Vegas play from behind the whole time. Vegas would pull their goalie, Logan Thompson with a few minutes remaining in the third. The Kraken wouldn’t be able to capitalize on the empty net, but Kraken goalie Joey Daccord wanted to try. He said postgame that he saw a chance, but the puck bounced to where he wasn’t able to shoot it down the ice.
“It just bounced, I was gonna try to catch it and place it and shoot it, definitely shooting but it did not wait for me, so I didn’t get the chance there,” Daccord said.
Head coach Dave Hakstol touched on the incredible atmosphere and Daccord’s play. He said that he thought Daccord was going to shoot one down to Vegas’ empty net toward the end of the game, but that he couldn’t get it settled. He said Daccord not shooting was maybe the one disappointment of the crowd.
But the Winter Classic is more than just an outdoor game. It was clear from players and Hakstol that they made sure to do what they could for the fans and enjoy the experience with their families.
Tolvanen said that with where players travel from to play in the NHL, he thought that it was just a cool experience for all the families. When it came to the on-ice action, he said that he thought the main focus was to get a hot start, which they did in the first period and each period after that.
“I think we did that really well,” Tolvanen said.
Tolvanen said that they talked about getting in front of the net and how that’s something that they’ve been struggling to do. But that clearly wasn’t the case on Monday as they peppered Vegas with shots, as did Vegas to Seattle, but the Kraken were able to capitalize on a few of their chances.
But the story of the game was truly Daccord’s performance. The crowd chanted his name multiple times when he’d make big saves.
“Truly the coolest thing in the world to have that,” Daccord said. “Just to have that support from them. I think Yanni and I can both say that we have the best fans in the world and it was so much fun here.”
Tolvanen said that when Phillip Grubauer went down, they needed somebody to step up and that Joey has done that.
“He’s given us a chance every night to battle for the win,” Tolvanen said of Daccord’s recent performances since coming in to replace Grubauer. “I think we’ve done a really good job. Every time he’s in the net I feel like we have a chance to win.”
Head coach Dave Hakstol echoed Tolvanen’s thoughts on Daccord and his recent play.
“You look at all the steps that he’s gone through,” Hakstol said. “He didn’t just land here today out of nowhere, he’s worked very hard for it. He’s done all the right things developmentally. He came up and he’s, you know, he helped us last year with some critical winds and key times, went back to Coachella (Valley) and obviously did an outstanding job there and took all those necessary steps to be ready to come in and work towards being an everyday goaltender here this year. He’s continued to do that through ups and downs, obviously this year, but he’s been a very important figure for us. He’s been to a certain degree the backbone here over the last few weeks, and every time we needed him tonight, he obviously came up big.”
Daccord said that he thought that Monday was a special day for everyone from their team to the city and the sport of hockey. He said that he was just grateful to be a part of it.
“It’s really special and it’s a huge win for our group,” Daccord said. “That’s a good team over there, it’s a big two points and at the same time, it was something that I’ll never forget and probably one of the coolest days of my whole life, so just super grateful for today.”
It was clear that Daccord wasn’t trying to indulge in the spotlight, but that if he had to pick a moment he’ll remember, it was a late save on a shot by Jack Eichel.
“But apart from the game probably just that first time coming out and starting warmups, no helmet on with the beanie on that was pretty cool,” Daccord said on memorable moments. “Just to see that, I’d never been on the field for something like that before and just to walk out to the ice like that and hear the roar of the crowd, it was insane, I’ll never forget it.”
T-Mobile Park was truly a spectacle on Monday with the roar of the crowd on every goal and big save. It was a big moment that the Kraken needed as they’re on a hot streak right now after struggling a bit.
“Two points are huge for us, especially early in December, it didn’t go the way that we wanted, we kind of turned it around, this game meant a lot to us and the city and it was a huge team win and it was great to get those two points,” Gourde said.
One interesting aspect for Daccord was the depth perception and not having fans as close.
“I’d say one of the weirdest things is like normally when a play happens and let’s say they hit the pole or I make save or something or it goes wide like there’s an instant reaction from the crowd,” Daccord said. “
He noted how with the crowd farther away, a shot hit the bar late in the game and that it took a while for the crowd reaction to reach him.
“So I actually thought I got scored on in the second period, there was a kind of that play that went back door hit the outside of the net, but I heard it hit netting,” Daccord said. “I thought they scored but then there was like dead silence so it was it was a little weird. You know with the sounds and especially like if the puck got above the boards it was kind of hard to see it like rims in the glass were really tricky to see so glad none of them kicked off the glass point today.”
Despite the delayed reaction, Gourde said that it was huge to hear the roar of the crowd.
“It was so much fun honestly,” Gourde said. “The atmosphere out there was amazing and just being able to be part of it, you really know this city’s a hockey town now, it’s amazing, it was just great exposure tonight to show the world how much Seattle is a hockey town. They were loud, the atmosphere was electric, it was just a lot of fun.”
It was clear that the team fed off the electric atmosphere and really enjoyed the unique outdoor experience playing in one of the NHL’s iconic events. The players couldn’t emphasize enough how special of a game and event it was for them and the city.
“Just hearing the support throughout the whole game, all the Let’s go Kraken chants and yeah, it was a special game and just to get the support from the fans and share that moment with the fans. Just to play out on you know, such an amazing stage and the setup was awesome,” Daccord said. “It was so cool. Like I honestly felt like I was out in my buddy’s backyard, so it was so cool.”
Hakstol was seen postgame hugging fans and enjoying time with them before attending to the media as well as high-fiving fans throughout the day. He made it clear that he thought that this event should be for the fans and noted a young boy down low near the field.
“But I think this stuff is really important,” Hakstol said. “Not for me, but you know for a kid or family to be able to come and have fun at this event and really enjoy it.”
He said that it was one of the greatest sporting events that he’s been involved in and participated in. Hakstol said that you can’t equate it to playoff hockey, but that in terms of sporting events, it was pretty awesome.
“The field and just the energy of the stadium throughout the year obviously we got off to a good start so that continued to fuel it but just the spectacle in the field for the event itself was outstanding,” Hakstol said. “It’s such a different feel from a regular arena. It’s got a massive feel to it. So that side of it and obviously as the home team playing in this city to have the opportunity to do this in this ballpark, in front of our own fans and get the result that everybody wanted makes it pretty special and that’s the best way to remember this event.”
The Kraken are back in action Thursday, Jan. 4 as they host the Ottawa Senators at 7 p.m. at Climate Pledge Arena.
Northwest Sports Desk 