Brandon Montour scores hat trick in Kraken's 8-2 rout of Canadiens

by · iNFOnews.ca
Montreal Canadiens left wing Juraj Slafkovsky (20) celebrates right wing Cole Caufield's (13) goal against New York Islanders' Semyon Varlamov (40) during first period NHL hockey action in Elmont, N.Y., Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Michelle Farsi

Original Publication Date October 29, 2024 - 8:36 AM

MONTREAL - Defenceman Brandon Montour had three goals and one assist, and the Seattle Kraken thumped the Montreal Canadiens 8-2 on Tuesday night.

Jaden Schwartz scored once with two helpers and Chandler Stephenson added four assists as Seattle (5-4-1) snapped a three-game losing streak.

Oliver Bjorkstrand and Jamie Oleksiak had a goal and an assist each, while Ryker Evans and Eeli Tolvanen also scored. Jared McCann pitched in two assists and Joey Daccord made 28 saves.

The Kraken chased Canadiens netminder Sam Montembeault with five goals on only 10 shots. Backup Cayden Primeau stopped 10 of 13 the rest of the way for Montreal (4-5-1), which had won two games in a row.

Cole Caufield and Josh Anderson replied for the Canadiens. Caufield tallied his ninth of the season, tying the league lead.

TAKEAWAYS

The Kraken scored on their two first shots of the game as Oleksiak and Evans both scored from the point. Schwartz and Bjorkstrand added one each as Seattle took a 4-0 lead 10:33 into the game.

The Canadiens lost by at least a five-goal margin for the second time in four games. They entered the game with their special teams rolling, ranked third on the penalty kill and seventh on the power play leaguewide. That took a dip as Seattle went 3-for-6 with the man-advantage, while Montreal was 0-for-4.

KEY MOMENT

Despite trailing 4-0, the Canadiens built momentum with Caufield’s goal and pushed for another late in the first period. But early in the second, Montour scored with a soft wrist shot from range to put Seattle up 5-1, and sucked the energy out of the building and ended Montembeault’s night.

KEY STAT

25 — That’s how many seconds it took for Oleksiak to give the Kraken the lead, one they never came close to relinquishing. Oleksiak’s goal was the second-fastest to start a game this season.

UP NEXT

Canadiens: Open a two-game road trip against the Washington Capitals on Thursday.

Kraken: Visit the Toronto Maple Leafs on Thursday in the second stop of their five-game road trip.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 29, 2024.