Seattle Kraken's Historic Shutout at the Winter Classic
Historic Shutout at the Winter Classic
In a display of sheer goaltending brilliance, Seattle Kraken's Joey Daccord etched his name into NHL history books by recording the first shutout in a Winter Classic. The Kraken faced off against the Vegas Golden Knights on a frosty Monday evening and emerged victorious with a 3-0 win. Daccord's remarkable performance included 35 saves, denying the Golden Knights any chance to light the lamp.
Daccord's Outdoor Game Mastery
Daccord's shutout is his fifth in the NHL's outdoor games, showcasing his exceptional skills when playing under the open sky. His most recent shutout before this historic game was against the Florida Panthers on December 12, 2023. The consistency of his performances has been a significant factor in Seattle's success, as evidenced by their extended point streak of nine games (7-0-2).
Beniers Praises Daccord
Seattle center Matty Beniers lauded Daccord's contributions between the pipes. "You always talk about goalies and what a really good goalie is and the best way to describe it is he saves the ones he needs to and then he saves one or two more that he shouldn't save. And that's what he's done for us basically every game," Beniers remarked. Daccord's heroics were on full display as he made several key saves against top talents like Jack Eichel and Mark Stone, further solidifying his role as the backbone of the team.
Fan Support at T-Mobile Park
Following the impressive win, fans at T-Mobile Park showed their appreciation by chanting Daccord's name, a testament to his growing popularity and the support from the Seattle faithful. Daccord himself acknowledged the electrifying atmosphere, stating, "It's truly the coolest thing in the world to have that support from them."
Scoring Highlights
The Kraken's offensive efforts were led by Eeli Tolvanen, who had a night to remember with a goal and an assist. Tolvanen opened the scoring early in the first period by redirecting a shot from Vince Dunn past the opposing netminder. Will Borgen later capitalized on Tolvanen's assist to find the back of the net in the second period. Yanni Gourde added to the lead early in the third, stealing the puck and scoring to seal the deal for Seattle.
Coaching Perspectives
Kraken coach Dave Hakstol shared his sentiments on the victory and the event's significance. "To have the opportunity to do this in this ballpark, in front of our home fans, get the result that everybody wanted makes it pretty special and that's the best way to remember this event," Hakstol commented.
On the other side, Vegas coach Bruce Cassidy did not hide his disappointment with his team's lackluster start. "It got to be 2-0 and we didn't have the urgency required early on. By the time we got it, we're chasing the game, which has happened to us lately," Cassidy explained. He also expressed his discontentment about the team's performance right out of the gate.
Looking Ahead
The loss adds to a troubling trend for the Vegas Golden Knights, who have now lost five of their last six games. Veteran forward Mark Stone suggested that fatigue might be contributing to the team's recent struggles. Looking to turn things around, the Golden Knights are set to face the Florida Panthers on January 4th.
Meanwhile, the soaring Kraken will play host to the Ottawa Senators on the same day, aiming to extend their impressive point streak even further.
As teams prepare for their next matchups, the Kraken can bask in the glow of a historic Winter Classic victory, and Joey Daccord can savor his place in the annals of NHL lore as the goalie who mastered the art of the outdoor shutout.
