A Historic Shutout at the Winter Classic
The Seattle Kraken's goaltender Joey Daccord etched his name into the NHL history books with a stellar performance, leading to a 3-0 shutout victory over the Vegas Golden Knights at the 2024 NHL Winter Classic on Monday. Daccord's extraordinary effort between the pipes, making 35 saves, marked the first shutout in Winter Classic history and accounted for his fifth in the league's outdoor games.
Previously, Daccord had demonstrated his prowess by blanking the Florida Panthers on December 12, 2023. His consistency and skill were once again on full display as he thwarted the Golden Knights' offense, including key saves against top forwards Jack Eichel and Mark Stone. The appreciative fans at T-Mobile Park did not hold back their admiration, chanting Daccord's name in a post-game celebration of his achievements.
Team Effort Leads to Victory
The Kraken's success was not solely on the shoulders of their goalie. Center Matty Beniers praised Daccord's dependable presence in goal, stating, "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."
Seattle's offense also came through when needed. Eeli Tolvanen contributed significantly with a goal and an assist. He opened the scoring early in the first period by deftly redirecting a shot from Vince Dunn past the Golden Knights' netminder. Will Borgen capitalized on Tolvanen's assist to add another goal in the second period. Yanni Gourde's tenacity paid off early in the third period when he stole the puck and scored, sealing the fate of the game.
The win further extended Seattle's impressive point streak to nine games, boasting a record of 7 wins, 0 losses, and 2 ties during that span. Coach Dave Hakstol shared his thoughts on the victory and the event itself, remarking, "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."
Golden Knights Facing Challenges
While the Kraken soared, the Golden Knights faced continued challenges, suffering their fifth loss in six games. Head coach Bruce Cassidy expressed his disappointment with the team's start, saying, "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 also conveyed frustration with the team's initial performance: "I'm a little disappointed in that we weren't better out of the gate."
Mark Stone, the Golden Knights' forward, suggested that fatigue might be contributing to the team's recent struggles. With a busy schedule ahead, the Golden Knights will need to regroup quickly as they are set to face the Florida Panthers on January 4.
Looking Ahead
Both teams are preparing for their next challenges. The Kraken will host the Ottawa Senators on the same day the Golden Knights meet the Panthers. As the Kraken aim to continue their point streak and climb higher in the standings, the Golden Knights will be looking to break their slump and regain their form.
For the Seattle Kraken and their fans, the 2024 Winter Classic will be remembered as a momentous occasion, highlighted by Daccord's historic shutout and the team's collective effort leading to a well-deserved victory. As the season progresses, performances like these could very well define the Kraken's inaugural years and possibly pave the way for a deep playoff run.
Joey Daccord's sentiment captures the essence of the team's spirit and the support they've garnered: "It's truly the coolest thing in the world to have that support from them." With such backing, both on and off the ice, the Seattle Kraken are forging an identity that resonates with fans and strikes fear in the hearts of opponents.