Save space in your Seattle Kraken memory collection for Wednesday’s remarkable 5-4 overtime victory against the Montreal Canadiens at Climate Pledge Arena.
Tuck it in beside the 2024 Winter Classic, and Eberle and Gourde 2023 playoff overtime goals, and whatever other personal Kraken memories from their first four seasons that will make future winter nights a little bit warmer.
The game carried enough storylines that we had to call the DJLR warehouse for extra pixels.
Sure, the circumstances weren’t as momentous as the 1917 meeting, when hockey clubs from the two cities met for the Stanley Cup championship. The Seattle Metropolitans prevailed, three games to one over the Canadiens. (If you look up to the rafters at Climate Pledge Arena, you’ll see the banner hung at the first home Kraken game.)
When the disappointment fades from a non-playoffs 2024-25 Kraken season, remember the March night when NHL and team records were set, parents were rewarded for flying halfway around the world to see their son play his first game, and the Kraken delivered a magical finish to what appeared to be a sure defeat.
Storyline 1: When A Yanni Closes, a Jani Opens
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Isn’t that how the saying goes?
A big part of the reason Yanni Gourde, along with Oliver Bjorkstrand and Brandon Tanev were traded was to make room for a young crop of prospects who might one day take the franchise to higher heights. “The deadline is over,” said captain Jordan Eberle afterward. “It’s time to buckle in and gain some traction.”
Enter Jani Nyman, a 20-year-old Finnish sensation, tearing up the AHL at Coachella Valley as a rookie. The team leader in goals (26) and points (41), Nyman was an obvious choice to fill one of the newly opened roster spots. Montour told the rookie before the game, “You’re here for a reason. Have the confidence to shoot.”
Nyman’s parents made the 4,700 mile trip to share the moment in person. The night began with the traditional “solo lap,” in which players making their debuts must skate out for warmups by themselves.
With the Kraken trailing by two goals midway through the 3rd period, Nyman authored a storybook chapter – with the help of Eberle, who broke into the league when Jani was six years old. From behind the goal line on a power play, Eberle sees Nyman streaking down the slot.
Eberle is about to record his third assist, one on each of the first three Kraken goals. “Good character win,” he would say later. In a (Finnish) flash, Nyman turns pass into shot before Montreal goalie Jakub Dobes can react. “An amazing pass,” Nyman said with a huge grin. “Easy work to score. It’s almost an empty net.”
Mom and Dad do have time to react, cheering and exchanging high-fives with Kraken fans on the occasion of their son’s first NHL goal.
Referee Cody Beach (32) makes sure the puck is retrieved and saved, performing the handoff at the Kraken bench to defenseman Adam Larsson.
When the moment fully sinks in, mama Nyman gets a little verklempt. I know, Yiddish, not Finnish. But it works. “Very special night. First game, first goal,” said mama Nyman’s boy.
Storyline 2: Montour Manhandles Montreal, Again
Stephen Brashear-Imagn Images
See Brandon Montour’s celly in the above photo? That wasn’t even after his most important goal.
When you’re a defenseman and you’ve already scored a hat trick in your first game against an opponent, what could you possibly do for an encore? Montour, the three-goal man in Seattle’s 8-2 win at Montreal last October, found a way.
His 1st period tally tied Vince Dunn’s Kraken record for most goals in a season by a defenseman, 14. Spoiler alert: Montour would break the record with his 15th, later. “You don’t come in thinking about any of that,” the defenseman said. “You just try to produce in any way you can. A tribute to the guys trying to find me.” Montour produced assists on both Seattle goals in the 3rd period, turning a 4-2 hole into a 4-4 tie. As the teams readied for 3-on-3 overtime, center Chandler Stephenson noticed something.
None of the three Montreal players were holding back to defend, should Seattle win the draw. The Kraken lined up likewise – high risk, high reward for both teams, depending on who secures the faceoff.
Stephenson tells Montour to break for the Canadiens net when the puck is dropped, because instead of pulling the puck backward on the faceoff, Stephenson is going to push it forward.
That leaves no Montreal defender between Montour and the goal. He unleashes a lethal shot from between the circles.
Dobes is still raising his glove to catch the shot which has already entered the net. Four seconds have elapsed, making this the fastest overtime goal – not just in Kraken history, but in NHL history.
Like George Peppard on the A-Team, Brandon Montour loves when a plan comes together.
Storyline 3: Kraken Comeback Kids
Stephen Brashear-Imagn Images
The first Kraken miracle comeback happened December 28 in Vancouver. Down by three goals with five minutes left, Jaden Schwartz and Vince Dunn each scored twice to fashion an unbelievable 5-4 overtime victory. Schwartz tied the game in the final minute of regulation. Then Dunn, much like Montour, converted an OT breakaway.
The Flames were the next victim on Feb. 8 in Calgary. Shut out for 53 minutes, the Kraken shocked their hosts with goals at 13:12 by Shane Wright and 15:19 by Andre Burakovsky to force overtime. Matty Beniers completed the comeback on a power play goal at 2:58 of OT.
Wednesday at Climate Pledge Arena, Seattle surrendered a 2-0 lead. Juraj Slafkovský scored his second goal of the game to put Montreal ahead 4-2 with 12:42 to play.
Doubly upsetting, Kraken goalie Joey Daccord was certain Slafkovský had deflected Jayden Struble’s shot with his stick above the height of the crossbar – which isn’t allowed. It had already been a rough night for Daccord, giving up three Habs scores on their first 12 shots. On his bobblehead giveaway night, to boot.
Unquestionably, at the time Jayden Struble (47) shoots, Slafkovský (20) is holding his stick high. But he chops down at the puck, and the NHL Situation Room decides his stick when the puck made contact was in a legal position.
Seattle was about to perform its eighth multi-goal comeback to win, the most in the NHL. Helped by David Savard tripping Andre Burakovsky with 2:33 left, the Kraken were able to pull Daccord for a 6-on-4 skaters advantage.
Vince Dunn let ‘er rip…
Matty Beniers (left image), tipped Dunn’s shot from the high slot past Dobes (right image) at 17:48 to improbably tie the game 4-4. Improbable in part because Montreal entered the game with the league’s seventh-best penalty kill; the Kraken scored two goals with the man advantage.
Storyline Epilogue: You Had To Yeet It To Believe It
I asked coach Dan Bylsma in his media availability to dispense with normal topics and just share the emotions of a special night in a not-so-special season. “Our mindset was, we thought there was enough there for us to come back. The fourth goal (against) is a downer, it hits you in the gut (the borderline high stick by Slafkovský that was allowed to stand).
“I thought the guys responded with determination, with character. To win hockey games, you need your power play to step up.” Both 3rd period goals were from the PP. “Dunner shot it off Matty’s stick to get that (tying) goal for us. The overtime goal was brilliant. Chandler took the opportunity to go forward, spring Monty for the game winner.”
Start the evening with a solo lap, end the evening named #1 star. That honor provided Jani Nyman his first chance to yeet a fish into the Climate Pledge Arena stands. A night he and his folks will never forget – and they’re far from the only ones.