Brandon Montour returned to the Seattle Kraken lineup over the weekend, but it surely was with a heavy coronary heart.
Montour revealed the rationale he missed 4 video games whereas on private go away was due to the dying of his older brother, Cameron Noble-Montour, 34, because 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 residence this season, are set to play host to the Montreal Canadiens on Tuesday night time in Seattle.
“So, my older brother’s been coping with ALS for 3, 4 years now, and it was a tough week,” Montour stated earlier than Saturday’s sport. “I am very proud and really completely happy to be his brother. He is someone that I’ve regarded as much as since, clearly, Day 1. (He was) a fantastic son, brother, greatest good friend, father. He is bought two child ladies.
“He battled arduous. It places all the things in perspective with the highs that I’ve had within the final couple years, with successful (the Stanley Cup with the Florida Panthers in 2024) and hockey and having infants and creating my circle of relatives. (All that point), he was at residence battling. Proper till (final) Monday when it occurred, he was smiling, and he was prepared.”
Kraken captain Jordan Eberle, who scored twice Saturday, stated, “You simply attempt to be there as a lot as you possibly can for him.”
“He is a brother,” Eberle stated. “I imply, anytime somebody goes by one thing like that, it is extraordinarily arduous. Only for him to be out right here (Saturday) and battling with us, it simply exhibits 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 yr and missed lots, so I will attempt to get again into it as fast as I can,” Montour stated. “I have been watching from afar and (have been) pleased with how the fellows are enjoying.”
The Atlantic Division-leading Canadiens are coming off a 4-3 victory Saturday in Vancouver, with Ivan Demidov scoring a objective and including two assists. It was the primary profession three-point sport 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 a fantastic participant on the ability play,” stated 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 bought a superb shot, and he is in all probability run each single energy play he is ever been on, so he is bought a number of reps on these.”
Demidov’s objective 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 stated. “I bought 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 sport, and he is purchased in, and he is truly very attentive and attempting to maintain getting higher. So, for me, that was all indicators led to, ‘Okay, it is time.’ And likewise, it permits me to offer him a bit extra ice time.”
The Canadiens beat Seattle 5-4 in extra time on Oct. 14 in Montreal as Cole Caufield tallied twice, together with the winner.
–Area Degree Media