A Historic Shutout at the Winter Classic
In an exhilarating display of skill and poise, Seattle Kraken's goaltender Joey Daccord achieved a historic milestone by securing a shutout against the Vegas Golden Knights with a 3-0 victory. This remarkable feat took place at the much-anticipated 2024 NHL Winter Classic on Monday, where Daccord made an impressive 35 saves, marking his fifth shutout in the NHL's storied outdoor games.
The significance of this shutout cannot be overstated as it was the first ever recorded in the history of the Winter Classic. Daccord, who had previously blanked the Florida Panthers on December 12, 2023, continues to demonstrate his exceptional abilities between the pipes.
Seattle center Matty Beniers lauded Daccord's consistent performance, emphasizing the goaltender's knack for making the expected saves and astonishingly, a few that seemed nearly impossible. "You always talk about goalies and what a really good goalie is," said Beniers, "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."
Key Moments and Stellar Performances
Daccord's heroics were complemented by several key plays from his teammates. Notably, Eeli Tolvanen contributed significantly to the team's success, scoring a goal and providing an assist. His goal came early in the first period, as he expertly redirected a shot from Vince Dunn, setting the tone for the game. Will Borgen capitalized on Tolvanen's assist in the second period, further extending the lead.
Early in the third period, Yanni Gourde demonstrated his defensive prowess by stealing the puck and converting it into a goal, cementing the Kraken's dominance in the game. The collective effort extended Seattle's point streak to nine games, boasting a record of 7 wins, 0 losses, and 2 ties (7-0-2) during that stretch.
Fans at T-Mobile Park showed their appreciation for Daccord's stellar performance by chanting his name after the game, a testament to the strong support the Kraken enjoy from their home crowd. Daccord himself acknowledged this, stating, "It's truly the coolest thing in the world to have that support from them."
Coaches' Perspectives
Seattle Kraken coach Dave Hakstol reflected on the victory and the event with a sense of pride. "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," he remarked.
On the other side, Vegas Golden Knights coach Bruce Cassidy expressed disappointment over his team's performance. He cited a lack of urgency, especially when they fell behind 2-0, which has become a recurring issue in recent games. "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 said. He also noted, "I'm a little disappointed in that we weren't better out of the gate."
Mark Stone of the Vegas Golden Knights suggested that fatigue might be a contributing factor to the team's recent struggles, hinting at the grueling nature of the NHL schedule and its impact on player performance.
Looking Ahead
Both teams are set to return to the ice soon, with the Golden Knights facing off against the Florida Panthers on January 4. They will be looking to turn their fortunes around after losing five of their last six games. Meanwhile, the Kraken will host the Ottawa Senators on the same day, aiming to continue their impressive run and extend their point streak even further.
As the season progresses, the Seattle Kraken, led by the formidable goaltending of Joey Daccord, are solidifying their reputation as a team to watch. The Vegas Golden Knights, however, must regroup and find their stride if they hope to compete at the highest level. With the excitement of the Winter Classic behind them, both teams look forward to the challenges ahead in their quest for NHL glory.