Kraken complete festive Winter Classic with shutout of Knights

Field Level Media|published: Mon 1st January, 18:15 2024

Jan 1, 2024; Seattle, Washington, USA; Seattle Kraken right wing Eeli Tolvanen (20) celebrates with the bench after scoring a goal against the Vegas Golden Knights during the first period in the 2024 Winter Classic ice hockey game at T-Mobile Park. credits: Steven Bisig-USA TODAY Sports

Eeli Tolvanen had a goal and an assist and Joey Daccord made 35 saves as the Seattle Kraken defeated the visiting Vegas Golden Knights 3-0 on Monday afternoon in the NHL's Winter Classic played outdoors at T-Mobile Park.

Will Borgen and Yanni Gourde also scored for the Kraken, who won their fifth consecutive game and extended their point streak to a franchise-record nine games (7-0-2).

Daccord, who earned his second career NHL shutout, stopped Vegas' Jack Eichel on a breakaway in the first period. Eichel also fired a wrist shot off the crossbar on a short-handed, two-on-one rush midway through the third.

Daccord made a sprawling glove save on Eichel with 2:12 remaining to preserve the shutout, the first in Winter Classic history.

Goalie Logan Thompson stopped 24 of 27 shots for the defending Stanley Cup champion Golden Knights, who lost for the fifth time in their past six games.

The temperature for the opening faceoff at the Seattle Mariners' ballpark was 42 degrees under cloudy skies. With no rain, the stadium's retractable roof remained open throughout the game.

The Golden Knights arrived wearing Elvis costumes, while Kraken players donned white T-shirts with orange overalls and stocking caps in a nod to the fishmongers at Pike Place Market. The Kraken were led off their bus by part-owner Marshawn Lynch, the former Seattle Seahawks running back.

A nautical theme was found throughout the park, with players walking from the dugouts to the rink on makeshift docks adorned with buoys.

The Kraken opened the scoring at 4:50 of the first period. Tolvanen set up at the top of the crease and tipped Vince Dunn's shot from the left point past Thompson.

Seattle made it 2-0 at 2:19 of the second. A screened Thompson got a leg pad on a shot from Tye Kartye but couldn't control the rebound, which rolled to Borgen at the top of the right faceoff circle. Borgen's slap shot knuckled between Thompson's left arm and body and into the net. Tolvanen got the second assist.

Gourde scored on a short breakaway at 2:10 of the third after stealing the puck from Vegas' Paul Cotter at the top of the faceoff circles.

—Field Level Media

Latest