Kraken 5, Canadiens 4, OT at Climate Pledge Arena
Notable: Kraken prospect Jani Nyman scored in his NHL debut to pull the Kraken within one in the third period, then teammate Matty Beniers tied the game with 2:12 left in regulation.
The Kraken and Canadiens went to overtime, where defenseman Brandon Montour scored right off the opening faceoff, four seconds in. The NHL immediately confirmed that it was the fastest overtime goal and tied for the fastest goal to start any period in NHL history.
Montour scored the third hat trick in franchise history the last time these teams met in Montreal. He opened the scoring in the first period and added two assists in addition to his overtime winner.
With the Kraken trailing 4-2, captain Jordan Eberle (three assists) carried the puck in and passed it around while Nyman twitched, waiting for his turn. By the time Montreal goaltender Jakub Dobeš (30 saves) turned his head, he was already in the process of beating beaten glove side by Nyman.
Nyman's parents traveled from Finland to attend his first game. Kraken Hockey Network showed his mother in tears as Nyman, 20, high-fived his teammates.
Nyman's 26 goals through 55 games led all American Hockey League rookies when he earned his first recall. This is the first full season in North America for the 2022 second-round draft pick.
Seattle winger Eeli Tolvanen kept adding to his new career high for goals in a season. It became 18 when the puck popped out to him off the boards and he sank a shot from the right faceoff circle.
Tolvanen's goal came nearly five minutes into the second period. Less than 10 minutes later, the Kraken's 2-0 advantage was not only gone, but they trailed. Patrik Laine scored on Montreal's first power play, then Alex Newhook went to the net alone while the teams played 4-on-4.
Canadiens winger Juraj Slafkovsky scored once on either side of the second intermission. On the latter goal, he stuck himself in front of Kraken netminder Joey Daccord and scored on a tip that looked impressive, but illegal. The officials disagreed. A review upheld the call on the ice and it was 4-2 Montreal.
Eberle nearly scored on a 3-on-2 with Montour and Chandler Stephenson (two assists) but couldn't quite hit the gap.
Daccord made 21 saves on his bobblehead night.
Quotable: "I told Chandler to stay back, just in case anything went south. I saw him bump it up, and went for it." -Montour on the OT winner off Stephenson's faceoff win.
Player of the game: Montour (two goals, two assists)
Goal of the game: Nyman was in the right place at the right time for Eberle's pass from behind the net.
On tap: The Kraken host the Utah Hockey Club on Friday.