Tomáš Tatar (center) during the Winter Classic match Source: SITA/AP/John Froschauer
SEATTLE – The Seattle Kraken hockey players won the New Year’s NHL Winter Classic game over the Vegas Golden Knights 3:0. The duel in T-Mobile Park was watched by 47,313 spectators, Slovakian striker Tomáš Tatar did not score in the home team’s jersey.
Tomáš Tatar became the third Slovak hockey player, after Marián Hoss and Zden Chára, who participated in the Winter Classic match more than once. At the same time, he reached a respectable NHL record and could become the first player of an overseas professional league who would score more than one point in every outdoor game. However, he did not enter the Canadian scoring.
The first star of the game was goalkeeper Joey Daccord, who made 35 successful saves and recorded his second career shutout. Five goalkeepers had a clean sheet in the matches behind closed doors.
“It was an incredible day and I am grateful to have been able to participate in this event. It was something I will never forget and probably one of the best days of my life.” Daccord told nhl.com.
The home team’s goals were scored by Eeli Tolvanen, Will Borgen and Yanni Gourde. After the match, they celebrated the triumph with the spectators, while the song Lithium by the band Nirvana played over the loudspeakers. “Tonight was a great showcase to show the world how much Seattle is a hockey town. The atmosphere was electrifying and it was a lot of fun.” Gourde said.
Home coach Dave Hakstol also praised the action. “One of the greatest sporting events I have attended.”
Before the game, only 14-year-old Nikhil Bagga, a singer and songwriter from Seattle, played the American national anthem on guitar. Two MH-60S Seahawk helicopters from Naval Air Station Whidbey Island Search and Rescue flew over the stadium.
“Everyone who prepared this event did a great job. We had fun doing it. We got chills. The anthem, the flyover, fantastic,” said Seattle forward Matty Beniers.
NHL summary:
Seattle Kraken – Vegas Golden Knights 3:0 (1:0, 1:0, 1:0)
Goals: 5. Tolvanen (Dunn, Larsson), 23. Borgen (Kartye, Tolvanen), 43. Gourde. Goalkeepers: Daccord – Thompson, shots on goal: 27:35.
Photo gallery for the article Number of photos: 19
- Author: © List/
- VIDEO: YouTube/NHL
- Source: TASR, ČTK
2024-01-02 05:43:58
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