Nobody likes to lose. Person. But it’s probably even more difficult when you’ve touched the highest echelons of success.
Posted at 12:29 p.m.
Yanni Gourde can testify to this. In four full seasons in the NHL, he had won the Stanley Cup twice and reached the conference final once. Although a latecomer to the big leagues, he has already played 69 playoff games, all with the Tampa Bay Lightning.
This number will remain unchanged this spring, since the Seattle Kraken, which selected the Quebecer in the expansion draft last summer, arrives in Montreal as one of the worst teams on the circuit. Only one victory since February 14, and none during the long journey that the team will conclude this Saturday evening in the metropolis.
“It’s different,” euphemized Gourde, in the morning, after training for his club.
That’s an understatement. Everything is different for him. For the worse, if we look at the record of his team. But also for the better, when he occupies a preponderant role in the attack and that an “A” is sewn on his uniform.
The 30-year-old striker did not hide his annoyance at the lack of “consistency” of his team. Last Thursday in Ottawa, the Kraken let the Senators take a 3-0 lead before starting a comeback in the final period.
“Collectively, we see good things, but we’re not consistent enough to be successful in this league,” he said.
As long as we don’t play 60 minutes with intensity, it will be hard to win at this level.
Yanni Water Bottle
There is certainly talent in this locker room, “but not enough to win games if we cheat”.
“We can’t afford to cheat,” he added.
Leader
The criticism may seem harsh, but it testifies to the intensity of Yanni Gourde – who otherwise did not exclude himself from blame.
It is this quality that we were looking for when we acquired the former Lightning, who quickly established himself through his leadership. In interview with The Presson Friday, defender Jamie Oleksiak called him a “really good player, and maybe even a better guy in the locker room.” Oleksiak, while playing for the Dallas Stars, faced the Quebecer in the Stanley Cup final in 2020. On the ice, Gourde had made his life “miserable”.
“He always has a spark, an energy, he plays physical, he always keeps a smile, he listed. It rubs off on everyone. »
On Saturday, head coach Dave Hakstol recalled that Gourde had played a vital role for the new franchise “from day one”.
“He won two cups, he knows what it takes to win,” added defender Jérémy Lauzon. Yanni is super energetic, you can feel it as soon as he enters the room. We are lucky to have him. »
PHOTO ERICK LABBE, LE SOLEIL ARCHIVES
Yanni Gourde visited Saint-Narcisse-de-Beaurivage with the Stanley Cup on August 17th.
Humbly, Gourde said he was “flattered” by the remarks of his teammates. “I will always be there for them,” he promised.
On an individual level, he takes a lot of “pride” in being “intense night after night”, in “winning [ses] battles”; to “do the right things”, despite a sometimes “difficult context with victories that do not come easily”.
Even if he plays a more offensive role than in Tampa, he claims to be “the same player” as before.
As soon as I get on the ice, I want to help my team win. It was the same last year.
Yanni Water Bottle
The end of the season will however be slightly different.
Wennberg and Donskoi injured
The Kraken will deplore two major absences on Saturday evening, while Alexander Wennberg and Joonas Donskoi will not be in training. Both are injured in the upper body. The team therefore recalled Kole Lind, who took part in morning training. Philipp Grubauer will be the starting goaltender for the visitors. The match, played at the Bell Centre, will begin at 7 p.m.