Final Buzzer: Breaking Out in Big Way

That, Kraken fans, is more like it. Way more like it.

After six games of near-misses and answering too many media questions about finishing scoring chances, the Kraken made sure to secure a historic first win at Climate Pledge Arena, overpowering Montreal, 5-1.
On a night when the NHL's 32nd franchise raised a Stanley Cup banner honoring the Seattle Metropolitan's 1917 Stanley Cup, the Kraken played the "full 60 minutes" and "fast" game that head coach Dave Hakstol has been extolling (or should it be 'Hak-tolling?') since Day 1 of the inaugural training camp.
"We got off to a good start," said Hakstol in the post-game media scrum. "That's always good, especially in your own building [which was Seattle-loud again Tuesday]. The big difference tonight is we could build a lead."
Hakstol is referring to the bang-bang goals scored at the 6:56 and 8:53 marks of the second period, doubling the 2-1 lead and effectively ending Montreal's chances of victory.
The Kraken's third goal was a deke of beauty perpetrated on Montreal goalie Jake Allen by center Yanni Gourde. Less than two minutes later, Gourde was tapping his stick hard, urging defenseman Mark Giordano to pass the puck more than 100 feet.
Mission accomplished, Gourde took advantage of a Canadiens line change and rapidly moved the puck to Brandon Tanev for the score in front of the net. The celebration was on for the sellout crowd of 17,151.

First Things First-and Uncursed

You can't fault Kraken forward Jordan Eberle for a little extra oomph into his goal celebration 62 seconds into Tuesday's matchup with Montreal. The veteran forward, who plays a fierce defensive game to go with a proven scoring touch, was minus-6 in old-school plus-minus ratings.
Eberle agreed with a reporter Monday when asked if he felt snakebit. He's had at least a half-dozen net-front opportunities that looked like sure things.
He made entirely certain his first shot of Tuesday night went in. He took an offensive-zone pass from linemate Alex Wennberg, crossed over with the puck from left to his usual right wing and zinged it past Canadiens goalie Jake Allen, who fans will remember was surprisingly protected by Montreal for July's expansion draft.
Defenseman Jamie Oleksiak notched a secondary assist on the Eberle goal, fulfilling the Kraken coaching staff's edict to transition fast from defense to offense by intercepting a puck and sending it Wennberg's way.

Who's Counting?

In fact, you can't fault a relieved Eberle for not remembering if the Kraken scored two consecutive goals (they didn't) before Montreal tied it at one. Or if it was 1-1, then 2-1. It was.
"Did I get that right," said Eberle, smiling. "I probably messed it up."
With the game tied in the first frame, third star of the game Jamie Oleksiak jumped from his D-man position into offensive play (he will enjoy the next team film study) with picture-perfect goal-line pass that Tanev redirected for his team-leading fourth goal (it got better).

In a Gruuuuuu-vy Mood

The "Gruuuuuuu" fan calls when Philipp Grubauer makes a big save started early here at Climate Pledge Arena-and actually were throated high-decibel all the way back to the preseason opener in Spokane (what's up, WHL fans in Eastern WA?).
Grubauer's biggest save of the night, humble opinion here, was stopping a wrist shot from Habs forward Alexander Romanov, breaking with a teamate with just one second remaining in the first period to keep it 2-1 Seattle.
The sellout crowd Gruuuu-ved on that.

Fast and Furious

Those Grubauer saves allowed the Kraken to keep "playing fast" on transitions to Dave Hakstol's liking. It paid off with a goal-of-the-year candidate by Gourde (OK there will be many more and probably from the same bundle of hockey energy).

In his third game back and one game removed from hitting a goal post in the Saturday home opener, Gourde swooped in on Allen, deked and backhanded a shot for the Kraken's first two-goal lead of the season. Then, just for highlight-reel effect, Gourde hopped over a fallen Montreal defenseman and skated to the corner to celebrate.
Soon after, Gourde and fellow fave Tanev ended up on the ice together. Gourde was hard-tapping his stick just outside the Montreal blue, convincing Kraken captain Mark Giordano to send a near rink-long pass his way. Gourde moved it "fast" to Tanev who scored his second goal of the night and fifth of the season.
Tanev scored seven goals in 32 games for Pittsburgh last season.

Stick-Raising Night

The night finished with many head rubs for Grubauer, then stick tributes from the Kraken players to the fans. The three stars: Jamie Oleksiak, Philipp Grubauer (told crowd "keep it up guys, you guys are our energy!") and No. 1 star Tanev, who started a new tradition. A stuffed salmon winged overhead and then tossed to a young boy in the stands.
Tanev and Grubauer were both smiling widely when media questions (looking at you, Ryan Clark of The Athletic) landed on just what did the No. 1 and No. 2 stars think about tossing a stuffed salmon. By the way, think about this: Jump-starter Gourde didn't make the top three Tuesday night.
"I was like, 'who came up with that?'" said Grubauer, drawing many laughs and then adding it did make sense with the Pike Place Market tradition. "It's the first time I tossed anything other than a puck or stick to the crowd."

Tribute to the Metropolitans

Dramatic and touching moment during pre-game festivities: The Kraken unfurled a banner commemorating the 1917 Seattle Metropolitans for being the first U.S. team to win the Stanley Cup, beating tonight's opponent, the Montreal Canadiens.
A wonderful video was in the first-person point-of-view of Metropolitans star Fred Foyston, narrated by his grandson, Cory Daniels. Fred Foyston's daughter, 91-year-old Barbara Foyston Daniels, was on hand to shout out the now-traditional "Go Kraken!" before puck drop.