Watch: Brandon Montour left reeling after Sammy Blais' aggressive hit in fierce encounter

In a Friday preseason game between the Seattle Kraken and Vancouver Canucks, Kraken defenseman Brandon Montour was on the receiving end of an aggressive hit from Canucks forward Sammy Blais. Early in the third period, Blais caught Montour off guard with a high, blindsided hit from behind the Kraken goal.

The two had been tangled up before the hit, resulting in a penalty for Blais. Fortunately, Montour was not hurt and continued to play.

The Canucks struggled during the game and lost 3-1 to the Kraken. Vancouver coach Rick Tocchet was frustrated and changed lines for some veterans. The Canucks' top players seemed disengaged, making it hard to view the game as just “preseason.”

NHL insider Jeff Paterson pointed out the Canucks' poor stats, tweeting,

"just past midway mark of 2nd period in Seattle, #Canucks have 0 goals, 0 hits & 0 takeaways according to game sheet. They do have 11 giveaways”

Sammy Blais discusses nerves and strategy during first NHL PTO

In August, the Vancouver Canucks signed Sammy Blais to a contract with their AHL team in Abbotsford. He also received an invitation for an NHL professional tryout. Blais may not be the most skilled player, but he is known for his physical play and energy. This style has helped him stay in the NHL for over seven seasons.

However, his health has been a challenge due to his aggressive style. Recently, Blais has shown better durability, playing 71 games two seasons ago and 53 last season. He feels confident after recovering from a severe ACL injury, saying he felt good for the first time this summer.

Despite a strong training camp, he struggled in a recent scrimmage, lacking his usual intensity and making mistakes. Blais admitted that being on a professional tryout has been challenging for him.

“It’s my first time being on a PTO. Normally, I go onto a team with a contract and stuff, but it’s been a little nerve-wracking,” Blais said (via canucksarmy.com).

“But like I said, I’ve been around a long time in the NHL, so I kind of know what to do to be successful. So that’s kind of what I’ve been trying to do these first three days and not put pressure on me, and just be myself,” he added.

However, he survived the roster cuts before the preseason. This gives him hope for a spot on the Canucks roster. Sammy Blais wants to show his skills in the preseason games and remind everyone of his role in the St. Louis Blues' Stanley Cup win in 2019.