On a Sunday night in Seattle, a game that the numbers seemed to tell one way was decided by something sturdier than the shot count: a few lucky deflections, a team that trusted its own quick start, and a home side that could not find its footing. Montreal's 5-1 win stopped its own four-game slide and stretched Seattle's losing run to eight, a skid that has begun to weigh on the players who wear the jersey. In the larger story of a season, it is one more night where effort and result came apart, and where a coach is left searching for the words to put them back together.
Newhook scores twice as Canadiens beat Kraken 5-1 to end Montreal's four-game skid
Two shots, two goals, and the tone of the night was set.
Mark
Montreal got outshot 37-17 and still won 5-1. How does that happen?
Mimi
Mostly through timing. The first two Canadiens shots became goals, and two more came in the last few minutes of the first period. Grubauer allowed four on six shots.
Luke
Worth noting that's the score and the shot counts, which are confirmed. Why the shots were so lopsided isn't explained in the reporting.
Mark
Guhle talked about being snake bit. What did he mean?
Mimi
That Montreal felt it had played better in earlier losses without results. Tonight tips and rollers went in.
Luke
That's his read of the team's luck, not a measured fact. It's a player's explanation.
Mark
Hakstol's comments were harsh.
Mimi
He said the team isn't playing with passion or heart for each other, and promised change.
Luke
Strong words, but the reporting doesn't say what will change. Also, six of eight losses with one goal or fewer is a real number, and it points to scoring, not just effort.
Mark
And the disallowed goal?
Mimi
A challenge showed Seattle offside on a power play about five minutes into the second period, so it was taken off the board.
Luke
And Ryker Evans's lower-body injury has no update. We don't know how serious it is.
El Pulso
- Seattle outshot Montreal 37-17 yet trailed by four before the first intermission, a gap that turned the night into a chase.
- Two early Montreal goals arrived on just two shots, and the Kraken never recovered their rhythm.
- Grubauer was pulled after allowing four goals on six shots, and Joey Daccord was thrown into a game already slipping away.
- Eberle's goal and a disallowed power-play tally offered brief hope before Matheson's short-handed strike sealed it.
- Coach Hakstol promised change while Seattle heads into a home game against Anaheim with its longest losing streak of the season still alive.
On a Sunday night in Seattle, a game that the numbers seemed to tell one way was decided by something sturdier than the shot count: a few lucky deflections, a team that trusted its own quick start, and a home side that could not find its footing. Montreal's 5-1 win stopped its own four-game slide and stretched Seattle's losing run to eight, a skid that has begun to weigh on the players who wear the jersey. In the larger story of a season, it is one more night where effort and result came apart, and where a coach is left searching for the words to put them back together.
Four minutes into Sunday's game in Seattle, a long shot from Montreal defenceman Kaiden Guhle slipped through traffic and found the net. It was Montreal's first shot of the night. Two minutes later, Guhle fired again and Alex Newhook redirected it in. Two shots, two goals, and the game's direction was clear.
Montreal went on to win 5-1, ending its own four-game losing streak and pushing Seattle to its eighth straight defeat. Newhook scored twice, and Guhle finished with a goal and two assists, a career-high three points. Cayden Primeau made 36 saves. The scoreboard did not match the play: Seattle outshot Montreal 37-17. Guhle admitted his team had been a little snake bit and was happy to take the bounces.
The first period settled it. Nick Suzuki scored on a two-on-one, and Newhook made it 4-0 just 27 seconds later, ending Philipp Grubauer's night after four goals on six shots. Jordan Eberle answered early in the second, but a Seattle power-play goal was wiped out on review for offside, and Mike Matheson's short-handed goal put the game beyond reach. Newhook also hit a post while chasing a hat trick, and Ryker Evans left with a lower-body injury.
Coach Dave Hakstol was blunt. He said his players are not playing with the passion and heart the game requires, called the losing hard to watch, and promised it would change. Both teams return to action Tuesday, with Montreal heading to Colorado and Seattle hosting Anaheim, looking to end the skid.
Four minutes into Sunday night's game in Seattle, a long shot from Montreal defenceman Kaiden Guhle found its way through traffic in front of the Kraken net and went in. It was the Canadiens' first shot of the game. Their second, a little over two minutes later, was another Guhle shot, and this one was deflected in by Alex Newhook. Two shots, two goals, and the tone of the night was set.
Montreal went on to beat the Kraken 5-1, ending a four-game losing streak of its own and pushing Seattle to its eighth consecutive loss. Newhook scored twice. Guhle added a goal and two assists, a career-high three points. Nick Suzuki and Mike Matheson also scored, and goaltender Cayden Primeau made 36 saves.
The score did not reflect how the game was played. Seattle outshot Montreal 37-17, yet the Canadiens matched their season high for goals. Guhle described a team that felt a bit snake bit, one that believed it had played better in recent losses. On this night, he said, a couple of tips and a couple of rollers all found the net, and he was happy to take it.
The first period decided things. With 2:27 left, Suzuki led a two-on-one break and lifted the puck over Philipp Grubauer's right shoulder. Newhook made it 4-0 just 27 seconds later, and that ended Grubauer's night. He had allowed four goals on six shots. Joey Daccord replaced him and made 10 saves. Primeau said it was a good game from the start, and that it is always better to lead than to chase.
Seattle got on the board in the first minute of the second period, when Jordan Eberle scored his 16th goal of the season from the right circle. About five minutes later, the Kraken thought they had another on a power play, but a challenge showed they were offside and the goal was wiped out. Montreal then extended its lead with about seven minutes left in the period, when Matheson scored short-handed for the fifth goal.
Newhook came close to the first hat trick of his career midway through the second, but his shot hit the post. He said that one stung more than most posts, but that it's hockey, and maybe he'll find a hat trick another night.
For Seattle, the loss extended a slide that ties its longest of the season. In six of the eight losses, the Kraken were either shut out or held to a single goal. Defenceman Ryker Evans also left in the first period with a lower-body injury and did not return.
Coach Dave Hakstol was blunt afterward. He said the game is played with passion, heart and for the player next to you, and that Seattle is not doing that right now. He called it more than disappointing, said it is hard to be part of, and promised it would change. He added that it is hard to watch the team fall off given what remains at stake, and that the jersey should mean something every time it is put on.
Both teams play Tuesday. Montreal visits the Colorado Avalanche, while Seattle hosts Anaheim, looking to stop the skid.
Citas Notables
We felt like we were maybe a little snake bit.— Kaiden Guhle, Canadiens defenceman
You play this game with passion, you play it with heart, you play it for the guy next to you, and we're not doing that right now.— Dave Hakstol, Kraken coach
Quieres la nota completa?
Lee el original en BradfordToday ↗
General News