Nucks Defeat McOil 7-5 in final 2 periods.

Rebuild Rules state 1st periods in the ROG don't count. 5-0 Oil after 1.5 thing is not important.

Some watched the 1st period of the 1st home game of this new season. I didn't. Because I knew the rules. I didn't see the Nucks get down 4 goals on 14 shots while only getting 2 shots of their own. The poor fans who watched that period must have had many Footie flashbacks from last year in the ROG. I didn't.

The Game Starts. Period 2.5(ish). Or 1 in Rebuild parlance.

As crazy as the opening 'demo' period was - or disheartening, the next 1.5 periods saw the New Nucks come back to score 3 goals in the 2nd, while only giving up 4. Giving up 2 while on the same Nucking PP was a bit 'so Canucks', but whatever.

Even better, the Nucks start the 3rd barely down five goals, 8-3. Seems like the Oil are skating away with the big league lead. Not quite.

While Manny might have said a few motivational words, the 3rd period Nucks were highly motivated. Motivated to score 4 goals.

Who knew it was 80s retro pond hockey night in the ROG. I mean other than us long retro Nucks fans.

How insanely crazy was it to watch the formerly mighty Oil almost lose the game?

THE LUNACY CONTINUES!

Hockey is such a ridiculous game. 😎

-- Thursday

Normally I might recount the Nucks goals... but did we recap every goal in the 80s? No, we didn't. Otherwise we'd still be living in the 80s with inappropriately big hair.

Watch the highlights. Starting after the period that doesn't count. Just ask Lanky... who was pulled before the actual game got going. Or the Nucks got going. Lanky gave up 8 goals and new hire, Meriläinen, gave up one.

Doesn't matter.

What matters is the Nucks came back to win the last period. And if that single Canuckian PP had not given up 2 goals, it would have been a tie and Nucks would have won in OT. Instead they had to win 7-5 in the regular two periods. I'm not making it up. The Rebuild Rule Book is.

We earned our dignity back, in this period.

-- Atty

How ca-ca-crazy are we Nucks now?

Crazy stat line too...

Also... the Nucks were the better 5-v-5 team. Out scoring Oil 6-5. The special oily teams were more special or the Nucks on that one tepid and disastrous PP was less than special.

But still... Nucks came back like a burning blaze of firewagon hockey on 80s skates.

This game feels like a win to me!

The Oilers had to give everything they've got, to beat us by 1 goal in the combined 2 games.

That's surreal.

-- Atty

They scored nine goals and it was still a disaster for them. 😎

-- Thursday

Haha, you score 9 goals and feel like a loser!

--Atty

According to rulebook lore, the 5 goals the Oil scored in the preparation phase were not meant to be counted towards the final tally. Someone needs to brings this up at the next meeting of the Bored of Governors.

Until then, we can just savour the mayhem. Win or lose games, when they are this freaking entertaining, who cares?

The new Nucks took it to the old Babbsie Oil. And never gave up. Except in that preparation period and horribly tentative PP that we will never mention again, because the Alien is back on planet PP. His rocket in the 3rd brought back pleasant Petey memories. What if he gets back to form?

But we have other more pressing scoring stats to ponder...

It was a wide open game the Nucks nearly closed down... or wait... they did.

Relevant Game Notes

HIGHLIGHTS

ROG hockey we know is back with Shortie in the 1st. Fortunately the next periods were refreshingly different.

POST GAME CHATTER!

Brock, Cotter, Schenny and Manny talk about mad mad hockey with a crazy comeback that almost worked.

Savour the mistakes, the pushback, the process... We're still #1-to-5(ish). Almost, pretty much.

Not that we're counting wins and points... unless we go on a stupid win-streak then we will both enjoy it and lament it, because despite the claims (that I made) about the rebuild being complete, Nucks could do with a couple more top 5 picks.

What a way, the cray cray way to start the new Nucks season.

Enjoy the next 82 games!

I am keeping this feeling with me for the rest of the year.

-- Thursday