Kraken Red-Hot in Outdoor Win

Early morning here at the Mariners ballpark started with the Kraken players arriving in bright orange fisherman’s overalls and matching orange caps with the flaps that pretty much make the whole get-up. Alternate captains Jordan Eberle (he was hardly recognizable) and Adam Larsson (if you know about the t-shirt, expect another) talked in the media interview room in the Pike Place Market fish-tossing gear to many smiles and nods of approval.

No matter that there was little sunshine (making the NHL icemakers and the goaltenders happy alike), the day went even brighter, red-hot, and louder for Kraken players, coaches, and fans in a 3-0 win for Seattle in the first-time West Coast-based NHL Winter Classic. Nothing gleamed more than earning the two standings points against rival Vegas. The Kraken are now above NHL-.500 with a 15-14-9 record sitting just one point outside of a wild-card spot.  

“One of the greatest sporting events I've been involved in or participated in,” said winning coach Dave Hakstol. “You can't equate it to playoff hockey. But in terms of sporting events, it was pretty awesome with the feel and energy in the stadium throughout the game. Obviously, we got off to a good start. That continued to fuel it, but just the spectacle on the field for the event was outstanding.”

That was Hakstol’s first comment during a post-game 17-minute visit with a media throng. Near the end, he reflected on Sunday’s late-morning practice/family skate and Monday’s result as the through-point to a productive and unforgettable holiday weekend.

"The atmosphere just had a massive feel to it ... as the home team playing in this and the opportunity to do it in this ballpark, in front of our home fans and get the result. That's the best way to remember this event: Enjoy the lead-up and enjoy family time. But the best way to really put a stamp on it is to have that focus that you need to get the two points.”

He Shoots, He Scores Indelible Memories

The goal scorers for Seattle all now have stories and benchmarks to share with loved ones and, in dad Yanni Gourde’s case, the next generation of scoring on this wondrous outdoor game afternoon. Eeli Tolvanen celebrated his Kraken debut last Jan. 1 with another game-winning goal, defenseman Will Borgen ripped home his first goal of the season, and fan-favorite/alternate captain/relentless two-way center Gourde scored an unassisted goal to make it 3-0 early third period. It’s hard to tell which post-goal decibels were loudest but no one was more pumped and relieved than Gourde, who went 16 games without a goal. He even gave a thumbs-up on cue on the centerfield scoreboard video.

Scoring and Decibels Soaring

The game action of skates and pucks on ice was highly audible with well-placed rinkside microphones (more of that please). But good old-school screams, yells and applause lived up to Seattle sports fans’ high-decibel standards when Eeli Tolvanen scored the first-ever outdoor goal for the franchise during the first period here against defending Stanley Cup champion Vegas. Tolvanen artfully re-directed a mid-air Vince Dunn speeding shot, effectively bouncing down and toward the left goal post to evade Vegas goaltender Logan Thompson.

It is Tolvanen’s 10^th goal of the season and 100^th NHL point (51 goals, 49 assists) on the Jan. 1 anniversary of his first game in a Seattle uniform last winter after spending two weeks learning Dave Hakstol’s systems of play after getting claimed off of waivers on Dec. 12, 2022. Tolvanen scored a goal last Jan. 1 in his debut, the game-winner in a 4-1 win over the New York Islanders.

“It was kind of the perfect game for us,” said Tolvanen, who collected a goal and assist to leapfrog Jared McCann as the third-highest scorer. “It’s cool to score a goal again [on Jan. 1]. It’s my year anniversary and I love it. What could have been better?”

Dunn is on a heater as of late: Six points in the last four games (two goals, four assists) and now has 25 assists on the year, trending higher than his career-high 50 assists in 81 games during the 2022-23 season.

Of course, it was the Yanni Gourde line on the ice for the opening goal on an ideal day: 46 degrees Fahrenheit and pretty much overcast all game. The line has been generating copious scoring chances while typically drawing the assignment to defend and disrupt opposing forward lines (in Monday’s case, either young star Jack Eichel centering Vegas captain Mark Stone and Ivan Barbashev or Chandler Stephenson between top more top scorers, William Carrier and Jonathan Marchessault).

First Winter Classic, Second NHL Shutout for Daccord

Joey Daccord, who is looking more and more like a No. 1 goalie with each outing, turned in a strong first period with 10 saves, including a couple of Grade-A chances for Vegas. He kept his team’s one-goal lead with a monster save on the aforementioned Eichel with two minutes left in the opening frame.

Daccord finished with 35 saves and five Grade-A chances, marking another stellar outing for the Kraken’s defensive corps and Dave Hakstol’s systems of play. While veteran forward Jordan Eberle said he and other teammates “are still on the schneid” of not scoring goals, the Kraken have allowed just 13 goals in the now franchise-record nine-game points streak (let’s not forget Chris Driedger doing his part earlier this week, closing out Calgary in a 2-1 road win).

It’s notable to report Dave Hakstol referred to Daccord as an “everyday goaltender” when asked about the rise of the 27-year-old rookie’s big day, multiple “Joey, Joey” chants, and those 35 saves, including a pair of stops on Jack Eichel, one aforementioned and a second point-blank catch-glove save late that had the Vegas center spinning and shaking his head in disbelief. That’s what Kraken fans want from their goaltenders.

“He’s earned it,” said Hakstol about his hot goaltender whose save percentage is looking mighty strong as 2024 arrives. Look at all the steps he’s gone through [USHL, NCAA, ECHL, AHL, four NHL training-camp cuts] ... he’s worked very hard for it.”

“It’s a special day for everybody, for our team, for the city, for hockey,” said Daccord. “I’m just so grateful to be a part of it. It's a huge win for our group. That's a good team over there. It's a big two points ... something I'll never forget and probably one of the coolest days in my whole life.”

Saving the First for the Best

Will Borgen picked a wonderful and opportune time to score his first goal of the season, beating Vegas goalie Logan Thompson short side and high with a long-range shot picking up the rebound off Tye Kartye's shot. Tolvanen picked up his second point of the day with an assist while linemate Oliver Bjorkstrand’s forecheck prevented Vegas from the getting puck out of the offensive zone, making the whole scoring sequence possible.

Unprompted, Borgen told a large gaggle of reporters around him in the Mariners locker room that he thought the best part of the event’s presentation was the national anthem played by 14-year-old Nikhil Bagga amid raucous appreciations of the guitarist’s talents and range of notes played. Navy helicopters moving overhead delighted Borgen too. Alternate captain Jordan Eberle called the customary song to be “electric” on this first day of January and the ninth game of a point streak that has players and fans alike more willing to reference playoffs hockey.

Gourde’s First Goal in 16 Games

Yanni Gourde does a lot more than score goals for Seattle, but he and his teammates were happy nonetheless when Gourde pickpocketed Knights forward Paul Cotter in the Vegas zone, then stayed on the bouncing puck to swat it past Vegas goalie Logan Thompson. His shot, appropriately, was more knuckler than fastball.