Brandon Montour returned to the Seattle Kraken lineup over the weekend, nevertheless it was with a heavy coronary heart.
Montour revealed the explanation he missed 4 video games whereas on private depart was due to the dying of his older brother, Cameron Noble-Montour, 34, on account of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also called Lou Gehrig’s illness.
Montour performed 23 minutes, 39 seconds and was tied for the team-high with three photographs and three blocks in a 3-2 victory Saturday towards Edmonton.
The Kraken, who’re 3-0-0 at house this season, are set to play host to the Montreal Canadiens on Tuesday evening in Seattle.
“So, my older brother’s been coping with ALS for 3, 4 years now, and it was a tough week,” Montour mentioned earlier than Saturday’s recreation. “I am very proud and really blissful to be his brother. He is any person that I’ve appeared as much as since, clearly, Day 1. (He was) an ideal son, brother, finest buddy, father. He is acquired two child ladies.
“He battled exhausting. It places the whole lot in perspective with the highs that I’ve had within the final couple years, with profitable (the Stanley Cup with the Florida Panthers in 2024) and hockey and having infants and creating my family. (All that point), he was at house battling. Proper till (final) Monday when it occurred, he was smiling, and he was prepared.”
Kraken captain Jordan Eberle, who scored twice Saturday, mentioned, “You simply attempt to be there as a lot as you’ll be able to for him.”
“He is a brother,” Eberle mentioned. “I imply, anytime somebody goes by means of one thing like that, it is extraordinarily exhausting. Only for him to be out right here (Saturday) and battling with us, it simply reveals his compassion and the extent that he has …”
Montour, who missed most of coaching camp following ankle surgical procedure, has 4 assists in 5 video games this season.
“I’ve solely practiced a couple of times a 12 months and missed so much, so I will attempt to get again into it as fast as I can,” Montour mentioned. “I have been watching from afar and (have been) pleased with how the blokes are enjoying.”
The Atlantic Division-leading Canadiens are coming off a 4-3 victory Saturday in Vancouver, with Ivan Demidov scoring a purpose and including two assists. It was the primary profession three-point recreation for the 19-year-old rookie.
Each of Demidov’s assists got here with the person benefit after he was moved to Montreal’s high unit.
“He is an ideal participant on the facility play,” mentioned Canadiens captain Nick Suzuki, who has 13 factors (two targets, 11 assists) throughout a nine-game level streak, the longest within the league this season. “His poise and imaginative and prescient, he is all the time discovering performs, discovering seams, he is acquired a very good shot, and he is most likely run each single energy play he is ever been on, so he is acquired a variety of reps on these.”
Demidov’s purpose got here at 11:09 of the third interval, giving Montreal a 4-2 lead.
“I’ve identified all alongside that ‘Demi’ can play on the primary energy play,” Canadiens coach Martin St. Louis mentioned. “I acquired to a sure level with Demi the place I felt like he had confirmed me that he is prepared to play on the opposite facet of the sport, the defensive recreation, and he is purchased in, and he is really very attentive and making an attempt to maintain getting higher. So, for me, that was all indicators led to, ‘Okay, it is time.’ And likewise, it permits me to provide him a little bit extra ice time.”
The Canadiens beat Seattle 5-4 in additional time on Oct. 14 in Montreal as Cole Caufield tallied twice, together with the winner.
–Subject Degree Media
