The Seattle Kraken made history on Monday as they defeated the Vegas Golden Knights 3-0 in the 2024 Discover NHL Winter Classic at T-Mobile Park. It was the first shutout in the 15-game history of the outdoor event and the fifth consecutive win for the expansion team.
Daccord shines in goal for Seattle
Joey Daccord was the star of the show, as he made 35 saves to earn his second career shutout and his first in the Winter Classic. The 25-year-old goalie was calm and composed throughout the game, stopping several high-quality chances from the Golden Knights.
Daccord became the first goalie to record a shutout in the Winter Classic, surpassing the previous record of 36 saves by Henrik Lundqvist in 2018. He also improved his record to 6-1-1 in his last eight starts, helping the Kraken climb up the Pacific Division standings.
“I’m super grateful for the opportunity to play in the NHL every single night and for the coaching staff and the guys to trust me out there and to get a shutout in the NHL, especially against such a high-caliber team with a lot of good players… yeah, it hasn’t sunk in yet, but it’s pretty special, for sure,” Daccord said after the game.
Tolvanen, Borgen and Gourde score for Kraken
The Kraken offense was also effective, as they scored a goal in each period to support Daccord’s stellar performance. Eeli Tolvanen opened the scoring at 7:43 of the first period, as he finished off a nice passing play with Jaden Schwartz and Jared McCann.
Will Borgen doubled the lead at 2:14 of the second period, as he blasted a one-timer from the point that beat Robin Lehner. It was the first NHL goal for the 25-year-old defenseman, who also had an assist on Tolvanen’s goal.
Yanni Gourde sealed the win at 4:12 of the third period, as he redirected a shot by Vince Dunn past Lehner. It was the ninth goal of the season for the veteran forward, who also won 13 of 16 faceoffs in the game.
The Kraken scored on three of their 18 shots on goal, while the Golden Knights failed to capitalize on any of their 35 shots. The Kraken also killed off all three penalties they took, while the Golden Knights allowed one power-play goal on four opportunities.
Winter Classic atmosphere delights players and fans
The game was played in front of a sold-out crowd of 47,000 fans at T-Mobile Park, the home of the Seattle Mariners. The fans were treated to a spectacular pre-game show, featuring a Coast Guard helicopter flyover, a giant American flag unfurled on the field, and a fireworks display.
The fans also enjoyed a live performance of the national anthem by 14-year-old guitarist Nikhil Bagga, who wowed the audience with his skills. Bagga was one of the winners of the Kraken’s “Play Like a Kraken” contest, which invited local musicians to showcase their talents.
The players also appreciated the festive atmosphere, as they wore special jerseys and hats designed for the occasion. The Kraken wore navy blue jerseys with a light blue “S” logo and a red anchor, while the Golden Knights wore white jerseys with a gold “V” logo and a red star.
“It was an unbelievable experience. The fans were awesome, the atmosphere was electric, and the weather was perfect. It was a dream come true to play in the Winter Classic and to get a win and a shutout was icing on the cake,” Daccord said.
“It was a great event and a great showcase for our team and our city. We wanted to make our fans proud, and I think we did that. We played a hard-fought game, and we came out on top. It was a memorable night for sure,” Gourde said.
