Great Tanking News! Canucks Almost Got To OT! Almost.

Bad news... Road Nucks start slowly. And wait until later to start.

Here's what we learned: While the ROG is the toughest rink the Nucks have to play in, Buffalo ain't great either. Would playing in Abby count as a road game?

Period 1

This game started really well. Ok, fine. Not that great. And worse, the Nucks get caught puck-gazing early - not checking your check. So Tall TT doesn't gaze. He whips the puck past Demmers for the 1-0 lead barely 2 minutes in.

Fine. Nucks bounce right back with a PP goal. Sorry, not a PP goal. A shortie against as Bess sends a pass to Sherry that escapes his Sherness and the Sabres scoot in 2-on-1 to score on Demmers.

YAY Powerplay goal! (For the other team...on our powerplay)

-- Twitch

Thanks to all the shooting on the Nucks PP, they outshoot Buf 14-9. And finish the period with a 2 goal deficit. 2-0 Buffalo after 1.

Period 2

In the 2nd, the Nucks come back and tie it up, right?

Not exactly. Instead, Nucks let in another goal, as Myers and PO combine to not cover the front of the net, while Sherwood allows Tuch skate by him unimpeded to put the puck past Demmers.

Still no goals for, but #Canucks twice as good in the 2nd, than the 1st. Only give up 1 goal instead of 2. #SmallSteps

— NucksMisconduct (@nucksmisconduct.bsky.social) January 6, 2026 at 5:41 PM

That's 50% better Nucks hockey right there!

Can probably take Sherwood off the Sabres trade list. He needs to play better against Detroit. #Canucks

— DJTaxman77 (@taxman77.bsky.social) January 6, 2026 at 5:25 PM

It’s January and it still looks like no one knows what they’re doing down low in the defensive zone. Middle of the ice is often vulnerable and if not that it’s the backdoor. Aggressiveness of the D is too confusing for the forwards to deal with. #Canucks

— The Canuck Fan (@thecanuckfan.bsky.social) January 6, 2026 at 5:25 PM

Sabres lead 3-0 after 2. Unlike the game, shots were tied 7-7.

Period 3

Fine. Nucks comeback and take this to nearly OT, right?

Nearly. But not before, they go down 4-0. No, really. What's the point of a great road comeback if the task is too easy.

Even though, the Nucks aren't playing in the ROG, they brought a little home generosity on the road. Let a young(ish) kid get his 1st NHL goal.

Especially generous on the play was Kane. Who declined the back check option out of common courtesy or something. Others saw it as inspiring the team.

Incredible defensive effort by Kane on the Metsa goal. Look at how he keeps moving his feet and never gives up on the play. He sets such a fantastic example for the #Canucks young players.

[image or embed]

— Daniel Wagner (@passittobulis.bsky.social) January 6, 2026 at 6:13 PM

Ah, another milestone goal scored against the #Canucks. 😐

— CrankyCanucksFan 🇨🇦🏒 (@crankycanucksfan.bsky.social) January 6, 2026 at 6:08 PM

Oh look at us, giving yet another player his first ever nhl point! We are the nicest team in the league!

-- Twitch

4-0 Buf and the game is nearly over.

Or is it? Not nearly.

At the 10 min point of the period, DeBrusk gets DeStick up DeNose. Nucks get a 4 min PP. Only needed half that for DeBrusk to get DeGoal. His 10th PP goal of the season.

DeBrusk with DeGoal but this time off DeStick in DeAir. #Canucks

— Ryan avgtraveller (@viewfromtherog.bsky.social) January 6, 2026 at 6:14 PM

4-1 Sagging Sabres. Flood gate time in northern New York?

Kinda. A mere 5 minutes later, Petey scores a spin-o-rama goal on the now beatable Lucky Luukk.

4-2 Buf and the game is getting interesting for those us not in a drunken slumber on the couch.

39 seconds later, new hire and possible new fan fav, Ohgren puts a wick shot between the wickets of Luukk.

4-3 Sabres and the Nucks are just getting started. Too late. It's like the eastern provinces are hours ahead or something.

Canucks thought they were two time zones further west.

-- Thursday

Because the Nucks had woken from their road-drunk-funk and made a game of it, with 4 mins remaining... yup... Footsey pulls Demmers before the Nucks have possession in the O-zone.

Not unexpectedly, while EP40 carries the puck in, he doesn't carry it far in. But far enough for a Doan to loft a 200 footer - past Foote, past the Nucks blueline and directly into the unoccupied Nucks net.

Lol soooo canucks. The EN.

-- Twitch

Our mutually long-suffering expansion cous wins 5-3. Good for them. Not so good for us.

Probably past time to wonder what could have been... No, it's the Nucks, never stop wondering.

Just like after most #Canucks games this year, I have to wonder how it would have gone with another veteran center or two, and how the season would be going if we had that depth from the start.

— Ryan avgtraveller (@viewfromtherog.bsky.social) January 6, 2026 at 6:51 PM

We would probably be better than any team in the Pacific Division. The Division is dreadful.

— DJTaxman77 (@taxman77.bsky.social) January 6, 2026 at 7:07 PM

OBSERVATIONS:

Nucks were not entertaining for most of the game. Were discombobulated defensively through 2 periods. And worse, offensively challenged until Jake-braked the shutout bid.

Players of Interest:

• DeBrusk is a PP specialist. Confirmed. 11 goals for the season. 1 5-v-5.
• Kane maintained his prestige position as coach's pet without earning it.
• EP40 got his 11th goal! He can still whip a laser into the net. Just not on demand like the olden days.
• Brock didn't have a great game to start, being -3... but in the grand 5 minute comeback, did pickup a couple assists. 3 or 4 of those and you can buy a goal.

don't think boeser is ever going to score again. at least not off his stick. #canucks

— jbearz.bsky.social (@jbearz.bsky.social) January 6, 2026 at 6:30 PM

0-9-1 when outshooting the opposition by 10+ shots. That is a crazy stat. Lack of finish. #Canucks

— trueblueser.bsky.social (@trueblueser.bsky.social) January 6, 2026 at 7:03 PM

Play to win now or play to win later?

Over his last five games, #Canucks Thatcher Demko is 0-4-1 with a save percentage of .875 save percentage and a goals against average of 3.98.

— Adam Kierszenblat (@adamkblat.bsky.social) January 6, 2026 at 7:34 PM

He understands the assignment 😉

— Ralph In The Ridge🇨🇦 (@ralphintheridge.bsky.social) January 6, 2026 at 8:50 PM

Your... er... Franny's... er JR's Vancouver Canucks in the last 20 games have: 4W 12L 4OTL which gives them 12 mighty points from an impossible 40 points.

The #Canucks make every goalie look great. Not kidding at all. We have no skill.

— DJTaxman77 (@taxman77.bsky.social) January 6, 2026 at 8:50 PM

Does that spell rebuild? Or hybrid-re-duct-tape? Does it matter at this point?

GAME HIGHLIGHTS

Shortie and Dave getting road ready on the road.

GAME STATS

COMMENTING OUT LOUD

DeBrusk scores another PP goal and gets a road presser.

Footsey start ok... and calms down a little.

This exhausting 6 game road tour through the hellscape of the eastern provinces started poorly, but perked our interest for a solid 5 minutes.

If the goal is to finish last in the division, last in the league, this long road of losing gives them a really good chance. So... they'll likely blow it. Or will they?

Tune in on Thursday for more to-tank or not-to-tank drama mixed with some below average hockey.