(Montreal) It was supposed to be a historic game – the first in over 100 years between the Montreal Canadiens and a professional hockey club in Seattle – but it was anything but memorable.
The Seattle Kraken scored two goals in an interval of 1: 57 in the second period on Tuesday night en route to an easy 5-1 win over the Canadiens.
Jordan Eberle, Brandon Tanev, twice, Yanni Gourde and Ryan Donato hit the target for the Kraken (2-4-1), the new NHL team who signed the first home victory in their history.
Mike Hoffman was the only one to retaliate in the Canadian camp (1-6-0).
“We shot each other in the foot on several occasions, and they took advantage of it. There were turnovers in dangerous areas, which caused redundant attacks against us. We knew it, we were aware of it. And they made us pay for it. It changed sides in the second period, and that made the difference, ”summarized head coach Dominique Ducharme.
Goalkeeper Jake Allen, left to himself for a good part of the game, made 21 saves in front of the Habs net, while his opposite, Philipp Grubauer, rejected 23 shots.
It was the first game between the Bleu-blanc-rouge and a Seattle franchise – it was once called the Metropolitans – since 1919, or 102 years.
Before the meeting, the Kraken took the opportunity to hoist the banner of champions of the Stanley Cup of the Metropolitans obtained in 1917.
The Canadian, who coveted a second victory in a row, would have liked to put an end to the Kraken festivities quickly. But things started off badly for him – again.
It was just 62 seconds into the game when Eberle opened the scoring for the 32e NHL franchise.
Hoffman then took advantage of Brendan Gallagher’s hard work behind the home net to drop the disc into a gaping cage and tie the game.
Tanev returned the lead to his team less than four minutes later, allowing the Kraken to return to the locker room for the first intermission ahead 2-1.
One would have thought that the break allowed Ducharme’s men to regain their composure, with a view to the second third. Fault.
A lack of timing, rough play and erratic changes to the Montreal bench allowed the Kraken to strike twice in the space of just 1: 57.
Gourde first made a nice individual maneuver to beat Allen with the backhand after 6:56 of play, then the Quebecer set the table for the second goal of the game – and fifth this season – for Tanev at 8:53, bringing the scores 4-1 in favor of the Kraken.
Donato added insult to injury in the third period, and the Washington State club relished the second victory in their young history on the Bettman Tour.
“If the options are there, if you don’t execute, and if you make the wrong decisions… These are the times that you have to manage. When you do it well, everything comes together. But when it doesn’t, the chain breaks, the wheel breaks, and that’s what happened tonight, ”said Ducharme.
In the absence of Jake Evans, injured, Cédric Paquette pivoted the fourth unit completed by Artturi Lehkonen and Joel Armia. No other changes had been made to the formation of the CH.
After his duel with the Kraken, the Canadian will continue his four-game journey on the American West Coast by visiting the Sharks in San Jose on Thursday night.