Not many goals! Only 1 goal scorer! Not enough!
1st road game lost. Nice to get that out of the way. Welcome back!
Not a great game by the forwards on the Nucks road hockey team. Demmers was all world... and beyond. Without him this would have been an 8-1 loss. So, that's good. Sort of.
On the bright side, finally... Quinn holds the record for the most points by a Nucks defender.
That was the high point of the game. Other than Demko stopping nearly everything...
As per Natural Stat Trick, #Canucks Thatcher Demko stopped 12 of the 13 high-danger shots he faced tonight.
-- Adam Kierszenblat on Bluesky
Tied 0-0 after 1, thanks to Demmers.
In the 2nd, Nucks get scored on. Twice. And don't score back. The 2nd Oil goal was particularly aggravating for us.
Fuuuuuck bad bad turnover by Chytil.
-- Twitch (with mid-season seasonings)
Chytil's horrible giveaway costs the game, though lots of things to improve on the PP and need some offense. Want to see Mancini's speed in the lineup soon. Quinn isn't being as dominant as usual yet and the new Petey needs to start playing.
-- DJTaxman77 on Bluesky
With the Oil outshooting Nucks 14-4 in the 1st and 14-5 in the 2nd, Nucks offense can only get better. Right?
Right. In the 3rd, the not quite comeback begins as Quinn gets an assist on Brock's special spin -to-score shot. Game thread, already in mid-season form pulling the silver out of the linings...
Good news is Hughes is now tied with Talbot for points.
--Twitch
But despite getting a 6-on-4 EN Nucking PP chance... Oil get the EN goal to win 3-1.
So canucks... on a 6 on 4, stick explodes, whole team decides to hit the showers early, game over.
-- TwitchYeah, look how lazy Hughes was there. Obviously, they all quit.
-- Thursday
Hughes is never part of that... but everyone else looked like their first time under pressure, giveaway, giveaway, shit pass, giveaway, ENG.
-- Twitch
Game/Player Highlights
Demko was the #1 star of the game, kept the Nucks in the game when the Nucks forwards were busy being scrambly in the 1st half of the game. And the middle part of the game. And the last part of the game.
Special teams... well Nucks PK didn't allow a single goal on 10 minutes of defending against the McOil. So that's good. The Nucks PP? Well... only got 4 minutes of extra wrong man time, so not enough time or shooters. When will we see Lekky on the 1st unit and on the EN more man gambit?
Meanwhile... our #1 center isn't winning draws at a #1 rate.
Whoever has been teaching faceoffs to Raty (Manny?) really needs to work with Petey. Raty 9 and 2. Petey 3 and 12. Wonder how they are against each other in practice? Your 1st line centre cannot have the worst pctg. on the entire team.
DJTaxman77 on Bluesky
It's game 2 and despite the small sample size, we can already draw conclusive hopes, pretty much.
I truly hope we don't have another season where we get limited shots most games because we have what looks like limited urgency. I want to believe, dammit.
-- Twitch
GAME HIGHLIGHTS
So many 5 alarm saves on HNIC!
GAME STATS
COMMENTING OUT LOUD
Bessie gets a goal and a presser!
Huggie thrilled with the record breaking game - and frustrated with the team effort?
Footey doesn't win his 2nd NHL game as a coach. And not punching reporters. Yet.
Too soon to say 'Here we are again'... but here we are again... low effort, not enough jump, too many penalties, slow start and not enough shots and goals. The usual.
Next game back at home hosting the Blues on Monday where we can welcome back Suter... and discover how much we miss him.
Many goals! Many goal scorers! Many goals that count!
1st home game in the ROG. 1st home game win of the season. Welcome back!
Nucks score 1st in the 1st. Speedy Sherwood and O'Connor perform a takeaway operation at speed. Sherwood opens the scoring. 1-0 Nucks after 1.
In the 2nd, the Cow Thugs go to work as Weaselger boards EP40 and knocks him out of the game. On ice it's called a 5 minute major. Off ice it's reduced to 2 minutes. With Pete down the hall, the suddenly reformed #1 unit goes to work. Work for nothing. Later in the period Pete returns, Phew.
D-Petey took a boarding penalty too. And Nucks PK was perfect. And needed to be as the not yet legendary Nucks PP went 0 for 4. For reasons we can discuss for weeks.
Nucks still leading 1-0 after 2.
In the 3rd, the Nucks special 5-on-5 teams went to work. Chytil starts with a near open net tally. Follows it up with a beauty breakaway deke for his 2nd goal of the game, the year.
Next we get Lekky, scores a wicked laser from a feed from Kane. Then the Nucks go retro fire drill in their own end. No fault of Demmmers as he was screened while the Nucks in front of him were busy not checking anyone.
To put the game away, EP40 breaks into the Flicker zone, makes a drop pass to Brock who launches a Brocket past the #1 goalie of CowTown who finishes the game with a .808% - while the Nucks #1 finished with a .944% as they open the season with a 5-1 win. Wooo!
Well, there we are, then.
Goal from a scorer, two from a suspect 2C, one from a rookie, one from the fourth line. An assist to the eggshells guy, too. Plenty of excellent stops from the hold-your-breath goalie.
No points from the defence after five goals is a shock, but eh! How many times is that going to happen?
COCONUTS GO!
- Thursday
Game/Player Highlights
Demko was the #1 star of the game, kept the Nucks in the game when the Nucks forwards were busy being scrambly in the 1st half of the game.
Surprisingly, with those 5 goals, none came from the backend. Not even a single point. I know, FIVE Nucking goals and not a single point from Quinn.
Special teams... well Nucks PK didn't allow a single goal on 8 minutes of defending. The Nucks PP? Well...
Kane on the 1st unit was reminding us of...
Evander Kane clearly watched a bunch of J.T. Miller power play tape judging from those blind backhand passes. #Canucks
-- Petrishriekandgo on Bluesky
And locally on the game thread...
God get kane off the first unit.
-- Twitch
Weird how hot the 1st unit was in the pre. When Lekky was on it...
NOTABLES
Bains was a beast on the PK, blocking pucks like he loves bruises. 2nd fastest Nuck on the ice and setup Chytil's breakaway goal.
Bains proving his worth on the kill.
-- Thursday
How was the 18 year old. He was solid. Didn't get a point and was part of the unfortunate Nucking fire drill in the 3rd. But who's counting?
3 times the canucks could have got that out of their zone and tried to be too pretty with it. 3 times.
-- Twitch
As the game went on, the Nucks became the better team in both ends of the ice. Good to see in a home opener. A home opening WIN!
And not to brag too much, but Nucks are 2nd in the Pacific. Small sample size, sure, but WOOO!
GAME HIGHLIGHTS
Shortie and Dave in the ROG!
GAME STATS
COMMENTING OUT LOUD
Demko loved the PK... even if he was the best PKer.
Pete played well and is engaged.... or more.... he's married!
18 year old rookie, Cootes talking like a 26 year old vet.
Sherwood (btw, on pace for 82 goals) liked getting the ROG rocking.
Footey wins his 1st NHL game as a coach. In his 1st attempt.
1st win of the season in the 1st game. WOOOO!
Enjoy the moment! The next game the 2nd best team in the Pacific play is on the road against the 7th best team. Let's keep it that way.
Tight Game! Cootes, Lekky and Gnarly Defeat the McDouchies
Kent warned us about reading. About reading stuff into the pre-season games of this [TBD] season. He also told us to plan the parade if they win a preseason game. They won 4 of 6. Time for NM to form their own brass band and start 3D printing the pom-poms.
ONE GOAL in the 1st. Lekky laser in the final seconds. 1-0 Nucks after 1.
Oilies score TWO in the 2nd. Nucks didn't score. 2-1 tOil after 2.
Nucks get a PP early in the 3rd. Lekky scores with another laser! Nice setup from Huggie after Gnarly wins the board battle.
As the Oilton Douchers upped the douchey, Marziapannie took a penalty on Gnarland. Then DryDouche wrestled EP40's helmet off and got a 2 min penalty for blatant douchiness.
Nucks 5-on-3!
"We have a two-man advantage! That means we can stop skating, right?"
-- Thursday
The Nucks static 5-on-3 was cut short with easily distracted Kane taking a stupid call.
Nucks static 4-on-3 PP played some more static... anyhow the final period settled nothing.
In OT, Nucks kept possession (which is 99% of the OT law) and Gnarly went straight thru a couple tOiling defenders you may have heard of, and made Picnard look sloppy to score the GWG. Wooo!
GARRRRRRRRLAND… loser Sludge never touched the puck in OT!!! Did I say Garland was playing more direct? Can't be more direct than that…
HAHAHHAHAH
-- @petrishriekandgo.bsky.social
Game/Player Highlights
Demko is back, baby. Made a few 5-alarm saves to keep the Nucks in the game.
Stand outs? Coote and Lekky made a big Thursday impression on a Friday night.
Okay, okay! Fine! Cootes and Lekkerimäki can stay! At least to start the season, because holy cow, did they show they could keep up this game.
-- Thursday
Going to be an interesting 72 hours for the Nucks coaching department. Expect an equally tough 72 seconds for the NM armchair coaches as well. Kent may have to pull out the roundtable from the garage, hose off the rum stains and ask the tough questions - which of us spilt the rum.
GAME HIGHLIGHTS
Shortie and Dave ROGing it up in the remainder of the free world.
GAME STATS
COMMENTING OUT LOUD - but not loud enough, coach.
Demmers, Lekky and Footey carry the last presser of the pre.
Can't read anything into it, except... WOOOO!
The Last pre-game WON against the Oilieton Edmoaners. That Gnarly put a pretty bow on it to win in OT is a delightful prequel to the season. It is, right?
Enjoy the last break from Nucking hockey. See you back on couch next week. Don't forget to mail in your roster selections before next Tuesday!
So many goals! So many goal scorers!
Kent warned us about reading. About reading stuff into the pre-season games of this [TBD] season. He also told us to plan the parade if they win a preseason game. They've now won 3 of 5. Time for NM to form their own brass band.
FOUR GOALS in the 1st. None against. Bess scores! EP40 scores on the PP! Myers scores! Forbort score on the PK!
Nucks score TWO in the 2nd. And give up one. Sassie scores with speed! R2 scores on the PP!
Nucks score TWO in the 3rd. Huggie scores! Sassie scores on the PK!
That's EIGHT goals. 8 goals scored by the Nucks in a single game. That was partially because the fLames weren't playing at the NHL level and neither were their goalies. But also partially because the Nucks were pushing the play on almost every shift. If... and that's a rather large 2 letter word... if this is Footy hockey, I really like it. Or was this McLean hockey? Or Young hockey?
Doesn't matter. It's only fair we get to enjoy a proper blowout.
Lots of praises, and nothing no concerns. Totally lopsided demolition.
Usually there is not much to learn from such a game, but we need a few of these for confidence building.
-- Atty
I feel very confident. Let's skip the middle bit and jump right to the SCF.
LOL! Why not?
Man, I've been hearing about the Flames pasting Vancouver 10-1 in a preseason game years ago, and maybe that sunk in.
- Thursday
Game/Player Highlights
Lanky kept the Nucks in the game early. The Nucks took care of the rest of the game.
Everyone looked great. Nearly everyone picked up a point.
Special teams were extra special. 2 PP goals and 2 Shorties. Wow!
So... how were the Pre-Nucktials? Sassie stormed back into the conversation with his speed, smarts and a couple goals. R2 impressed - his best game so far. As did Bains and Karlsson.
The vets were pretty good too. Huggie with a goal and 2 points. EP40 with a goal and a point - and 4 shot attempts on the PP. Brock with a goal and a point. Myers and Forbort with a goal each.
Mancini didn't get on the scoresheet, but played well as well.
So many tough choices for the Nucks coaches to make. Finally a preseason where there's an abundance of great options rather than looking who could fill spots that weren't earned. All the Pre-Nucktials have earned their looks.
GAME HIGHLIGHTS
Shortie and Dave on the road having some blowout fun!
GAME STATS
PLAYERS, ASST. COACH COMMENTING OUT LOUD
Don't read the typo title... this was the CowTown game, not the Kraking one.
Bess, Lanky and Assistant coach, Young give us the secrets to 8-1 blowouts.
Can't read anything into it, except... WOOOO!
Last pre-game of the pre-season is back in the ROG against the Oilieton Edmoaners on Friday. The Entitled moaners lost tonight to the Kraklings... so not to get our hopes up... but a Nucks win on Friday would be a nice pickup game to get us ready for the 82 game grind. Enjoy the moment!
The World's Most Expensive 1st Line vs the Pre-Nucks
As one might expect, the tOilers put the best line on the ice to face the AHL+ Canucks. Why? Because after years of disappointment, they had to give their home fans a win early before the eventual heartbreak.
Do the Nucks get McDry'd in the 1st? Yes. Trailing by only a couple goals after getting outshot 12-6.
In the 2nd, our farm boys are pushing back and get back into the game giving up only a PP goal. 3-0 after 2.
Eesh... canucks don't look great. 3-0 for the most entitled team in sports
- Twitchy
In the 3rd, the young Nucks keep on pushing. R2 scores early on an Oilie giveaway. 30 seconds later, Cootes puts a pass on net to O'Connor, but deflects off Ekholm's skate past Skinny.
The comeback was almost complete when the young Nuckers let McD and Dry break in on Demmers with a 2-on-1 that Ronnie couldn't handle.
However, in the last 4 minutes of the game, Footy pulls Demmers and the Nucks attack - all 6 of them - at once. Nucks apply pressure - a smart pass from Chytil, and Lekky lets a laser loose past Skinny.
Nucks win (almost) with a 4-3 final for the tOil.
Game/Player Highlights
Once again, Cootes was a force on the ice. Played great as did O'Connor, who already has a slot on the roster, so doesn't count.
Lekky is looking to be a regular Nucks top 6. And hope we see him get a shot.
Think Cootes has earned himself another game.
Okay, what I _do_ like about him is that I think he can start on a fourth line and work his way up. Lekkermaki - hell of a shot, that - needs to be in the top two lines.
-Thursday
What other keen takes can we take away from this game played in the ice hell of hell?
Don’t care about the loss. They showed some hustle. I sure hope Chytil can stay healthy because he was a standout to me. Same with O’Connor
- Zan
GAME HIGHLIGHTS
Shortie and Dave make the grueling trip up north.
GAME STATS
PLAYERS, COACH COMMENTING OUT LOUD
Cootes in silver chain - soon to be gold. Lekky liking the zap-shot. Footy happy with the comeback kids.
Again we probably we can't read anything into it, so no worries, we'll get them when it counts!
For those not watching at home, the pre-season drags on and on. Next game is next month, on a Wednesday, in CowTown. Enjoy the extended exhibition games!
EP40, Huggie, Bessie, Ronnie make their pre-season debut
Kent warned us about reading. About reading stuff into the pre-season games of this [TBD] season. He also told us to plan the parade if they win a preseason game. Now waiting for a call back from the brass band leaders around town.
With some Nucking heavy hitters on the front and back end for this season debut of the ROG, we could expect the game to start as is ROG tradition. Nucks getting out-worked, out-skated and out-scored 1-0 in the 1st.
And part of the 2nd when Seatown AHLers scored to lead 2-0. Much ruminating in the game thread about ol' Matty getting a shutoutie on us.
But Lekkerimäki, Kudryavtsev and Cootes' shin put that nightmare to bed. Nucks were coming back in the 2nd.
Nucks took over the game in the 3rd. Ronnie's rocket tied the game. Next, the earlier invisible player, DeBrusk got a dirty goal in tight and blue on the Nucks PP. Seatown finally pulled Matty - smart move - and Kane notched the EN.
Nucks win 4-2, outshooting the Kraks 18-4 in the 3rd. Seatown AHLers got kraked real good.
Nucks PP was looking much zippier than we've seen for some time. On their 1st PP of the game, in the 3rd, it was very zippy.
What was that, six shots on that power play? Eight?
Everything but score, there!
- Thursday
Game/Player Highlights
Tolo came in relief for Lanky in the 3rd and posted another 20 minute shutout.
More importantly... how was Pete? Which Pete? Oh that Pete... he looked good. Delivered some crushing hits and rag-dolled Kartye. Oh the other Petey... the expensive Petey. He looked pretty good. Got better as the game went on. Was fun to watch him and Huggie on PP1.
Quinn was into this pre-pre-playoff game. For over 24 minutes. He was breaking ankles and blowing some passes. Incredible to watch him on the PP. Seatown D would disagree.
Cootes was again looking like a young NHL-ready center. He and Lekky were great together.
Kane was getting some love from the ROG fans... and later the coach.
Kravtov didn't have a great game. Lost his man on the 1st GA. And lost position on the 2nd GA. Ah... youth. Joseph finished with a -2 and we could see Mancini back next game.
Local kid (older kid now) has finally made the Nucks. Tyson Barrie will be joining Canucks regional home broadcasts on Sportsnet for the 2025.26 season. He'll have fin at putting Murph into the pressbox boards.
GAME HIGHLIGHTS
Shortie and Dave back on the sportynet coverage.
GAME STATS
PLAYERS, COACH COMMENTING OUT LOUD
Cootes already giving veteran pressers.
Sherwood planning to make a bigger impact on the PK.
Adam Footey giving his calm, even assessment of the prospects and veteran rust.
Again we probably we can't read anything into it, but... WOOOO!
Nucks won't play Seatown again until Dec. 29th, which is just fine. But Dang! What a long pre-season.
The next mean nothing game is on Sunday in Edmonton. There's nothing we can say about that... that isn't mean.
Mean Nothing Game Takes On A New Nothing Big Meaning.
Kent warned us about reading. About reading stuff into the pre-season games of this [TBD] season. He also told us to plan the parade if they win a preseason game. I'll call the brass band leaders around town.
Nucks beefed up the backend with a couple regulars, Myers and the M-Petey and a ringer goalie, named Demko. This was less of a pre-nucktial affair. Demko shutout the fLames. Through a single period. Van-Abby Nucks led 2-0 after the 1st.
Hogz gotta PP goal in the paint and Mancini scored 5-on-5 while being wide open on a deft pass from Karlsson.
In the 2nd, Chytil scored on the PP from a sweet setup featuring Willander and Kudryavtsev while 6'6" Alriksson made a very tall screen.
Sadly, in his parade-planned return, Demmers gave up a Cow Town PP goal when R2 and Aman both went to the wrong side of the ice at the wrong time. The penalty, as is tradition, was for the Nucks having too many players on the ice trying vie for a roster slot.
Doesn't matter.
What matters is the Nucks finally win a vital game in the non-vital preseason. Yay!
Game/Player Highlights
Tolo came in relief for Demko in the 3rd, and like Demko, posted a solid 20 minute shutout. Made some spectacular saves while standing tall. Very tall. Or swooping very low. Abby's net will be well covered this seaon.
Mancini continued his high octane defense and offense. Kid has some mojo going. Whether Footey - we can call him Footey now - is as enthusiastic as mere fans is TBD.
Mancini wasn't the only notable D. Tom Willander looked very good picking up 2 assists. Calm and making great plays all over the ice. Kravtsov made some key plays through out the game. Breaking a 3-on-2 in his own zone. Making good passes out of the zone.
Stillman was playing gritty. As was LaBate. Bains was notable for being too fast to see with the untrained eye.
Bad News for Hoggie, for us. Injured in the 2nd and didn't return. Was seen in a walking cast leaving the rink. Ugh.
GAME HIGHLIGHTS
Local colour commentary from Sportynet 650 crew.
GAME STATS
PLAYERS, COACH COMMENTING OUT LOUD
Fillip Chytil gives his 1st prenucktial season presser.
Good to see Demmers back on the mic... and in the net.
Mancini happy to be back in the building where he won the Cup.
Footey... we can call him Footey, right? Adam give his calm, even assessment... he'll fire up the slug-o-meter in November.
We probably we can't read anything into it, but... WOOOO!
The young gunning Nucks will probably get another game in. On Friday in the ROG vs Seatown. Then it's roster cut time in False Creek. Hope these speedy, skilled prospects make it tougher on Footey's chopping block.
This was the best game the PreNucktials have played the entire preseason. Not just because the won, but because how they won. TWO! Count 'em TWO power play goals in a single game.
Enjoy the process!
Mean Nothing Game Takes On A New Nothing Meaning.
Kent warned us about reading. About reading stuff into the 1st pre-season game of this [TBD] season. So stop reading now and go outside and shout at the clouds. If no clouds are available in your area, go outside and shout at the moon. If the moon is not available in your area, go outside and wait for the all clear sign - around Apr 2026 or so.
None of the Nucks stars played in this game, pretty much. This was a pre-nucktial affair. Yes, the Nucks got beat, although not as much of a beating as it looked to be mid 2nd. So, that's not so bad.
Game/Player Highlights
Tolo started in the net for the 1st half of the game. Looked sharp and very tall. Kept the 1-1 tie until... a Young goalie came in cold mid-2nd and got lit up. Gave up 3 goals in 4 minutes. Much to the delight of the Seatown fans in the Climate Emergency arena.
Young will be fine in Abby. Tolo will be extra fine in Abby.
Mancini was the best Nucking D - scored a power play goal. The only Nucks PP tally in 12 baziilion chances, as the Pre-Nucktials looked very much like the Pro-Nuckies PP of last season. Especially similar when playing catchup 6-on-4 in the last minute of the game. Excluding that all-time best last minute of a game against Dallas.
We can expect Mancini, if he doesn't make the False Hope Creek team, will be a star in Abby. Unless the Nucks management trade him to some eastern team for a coveted center that doesn't pan out, while Victor goes on to win a Cup with some eastern bastards team.
Stillman scored on a penalty shot late 2nd, which if we were allowed to read into stuff, might have got some attention from the coaching staff.
LaBate was LeBeast on skates. Kracking Kraks all over. Expect he'll be a big hit in Abby this season. He assisted on Aman's pre-pre-pre tying goal.
Hoggie looked like his usual motor-skater. Drew a couple penalties and of course, scored no goals.
Cootes looked like a good young NHL center. As we saw in camp - looked great with Sherwood. Cootes was better than Chytil in the dot. Chytil needs some special Manny time.
Do the Nucks dare sign the 18 year old 1st rounder to an entry-level NHL deal now? Sorry... answering would require reading something into this game, which we've been forbidden to do.
GAME HIGHLIGHTS
Local colour commentary from Sportynet 650 crew.
GAME STATS
COACHES CORNERED
Foote needs to up his presser presentation... way too calm and analytical... maybe roughing up a couple reporters early in the season will make us forget those forgettable Taco pressers. Mancini already has the NHL player presser chat mastered.
At least this loss is over with. It's not like the Nucks are the defending Cup champs that lost TWO games. Lost TWO games in a single day! But we can't read about it.
With nothing to read about, we can move on to the next preseason game on Wednesday. It's in the ROG. Remember that barn? Me neither. Against a division rival from the Cow Barn.
Thanks for not reading anything and get ready to continue not reading anything into or out of these meaningless games. Games filled with profound meaning to us, as we are hoping beyond hope to find some hope we can believe in this season.
The Oilers bounce the Stars (literally) from the playoffs to setup a rematch against the Panthers, and the Abbotsford Canucks get OT heroics from an unlikely source to take Game One against Texas.
LAST NIGHT'S ACTION
EDMONTON OILERS 6 DALLAS STARS 3 (Oilers win series 4-1)
There were two main questions facing the Dallas Stars heading into Game Five last night. Could they get the scoring that they haven't been getting, and would Jake Oettinger steal a game for them. Well, after two shots in the first period, the latter was a definite no.
Oettinger was pulled after the Oilers scored on their first two shots, just seven minutes into the game, replaced by former Canuck Casey DeSmith. So this is where they turn things around, as coach Pete DeBoer sends his team a message and they respond accordingly, right?
Wrong.
Jeff Skinner scored his first career playoff goal on the very next shot. Sure, Dallas would make it 3-2 in the second period, and it looked for a moment like they had some fight in them, but after Roope Hintz's PPG got the Stars to within one, it took just two minutes and other insanely fortunate Oilers bounce to Connor McDavid to shut that down. The Stars would get one more, but it's clear they were already broken.
What no one saw coming was this:
Yeah, that's a pretty awful look, even if it's not 100% in context.
So once again, we're left with a South Park Stanley Cup series. Joy. I suppose the only possible good thing to come out of it would be a Canadian team winning the Cup, though I genuinely do not believe this bunch of bastards have what it takes. So I won't be cheering for either team to win. I don't want to live in a world where Oilers fans get to be happy, and have good things happen to them.
Game One goes on June 4th. We will be doing game threads for the Abbotsford Canucks to cover some of the gap.
ABBOTSFORD CANUCKS 3 TEXAS STARS 2 (OT) (Canucks lead series 1-0)
The Abbotsford Canucks have been getting some timely goals from their defence through this playoff run, and last night an unlikely one stepped up to be the hero. Veteran blueliner Christian Wolanin scored at 5:51 of OT to give the Canucks a 3-2 win and take a 1-0 series lead in the Western Conference Finals.
The Canucks penalty killing continued its stellar run, and while there was only one Texas penalty to kill off, it was a massive one, as Jonathan Lekkerimaki took a high sticking penalty with just over three minutes to go in the third.
Ty Mueller had a goal and an assist, and Linus Karlsson assisted on both Mueller's goal and the first period marker from Guillaume Brisebois. Both goalies were outstanding in this one, as Arturs Silovs made 36 saves, and Texas' Remi Poirier stopped 43 Abbotsford shots. Game Two goes Saturday night at 7 pm PDT at the Abbotsford Centre.
FIRST THE BAD NEWS...
BROCK DIDN'T SCORE.
HUGGIE DIDN'T GET ANOTHER POINT.
However, Nucks got another home loss to put a bow on this lost season.
The good news? It's over.
The other bad news? It's over. Apparently the league isn't honoring our rule change, despite the Nucks beating the Avs to claim their spot last week, despite the NM fully-binding poll in favour of the Nucks taking the Avs spot, despite all that, NHL isn't budging from their pretend meritocracy ranking.
Nucks played a good game against the best team in the division - for the 1st 30 minutes. Last 30 minutes... well... just another over-matched Nucks team getting crushed in the 3rd.
1ST
The best part of the game was this period.
Nucks looked like they could keep up with the Nighties and maybe... even get the lead.
And did.
Hoagie works the boards, gets the puck to Gnarly who puts a shot on net and rebound pops out to...
WOOOO SUTER THE SHOOTER!
-- Twitch
The goal got the ROG rocking... and the game thread... started the Brock and Huggie watch.
And we watched. And watched. And waited. And waited.
Meanwhile...
Suter is getting paid this offseason
-- Westy
Do we know who will pay him? We'll find out before summer. Maybe.
Meanwhile... Nucks lead 1-0 at home.
That completes the happy portion of the game, the recap, the season. Thanks for reading!
2ND
With the good part of game out of the way we can move on to the usual...
Vegas ties late and there's still stuff to wonder about.
So Garland needs one goal for 20....Jake needs 2 goals for 30 and Brock needs $8.5 million a year
-- Westy
We all have our needs.
Nucks tied 1-1 after 2.
3RD
Turns out that Lanky tweaked a muscle and Taco wanted him to skip the losing portion of the program.
Tolo starts for the 3rd and records his 1st NHL loss. Nighties score 2 goals and the EN. Our old Ben 'Traitor' Hutton got 2 assists, because... so Canucks.
NHL refs are nothing, if not fair...Nucks get their 1st PP of the game mid-3rd and squander the chance... because, why not?
Anyhow... we've seen this many times before... Vegas gets their 10th win in the ROG and we get the what-ifs and worse.
Dang it! This was like waiting for Edler to get Goal 100 and it never happened.
-- Thursday
Nucks lose 4-1 to a better, faster, stronger more skilled team. For now.
Now it's up to Jim and Patrick to show us the retooling chops we've been licking our chops for.
Enjoy the show!
OBSERVATIONS
Bummer that Brock couldn't get a goal, a point or even some tribute time, just in case.
Capt'n Huggie will recover, recoup and be back next season to blast past Eddie and carry the Nucks into the playoffs, for sure. Pretty much.
The sky is speaking...
2024/2025. The end. #Canucks
— Ryan avgtraveller (@viewfromtherog.bsky.social) April 16, 2025 at 9:50 PM
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*sigh* Maybe next season. #Canucks
— Hard2BGreene (@hard2bgreene.bsky.social) April 16, 2025 at 9:53 PM
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Brock Boeser leaves the ice for what could be his last time as a Vancouver Canuck 😢 #Canucks #GoCanucksGo #NHL HockeyThreads
— Canucks Watcher (@canuckswatcher.bsky.social) April 16, 2025 at 9:54 PM
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#Canucks Jersey off their backs.
— Ryan avgtraveller (@viewfromtherog.bsky.social) April 16, 2025 at 9:57 PM
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5th youngest team learned like 10 years worth of hard lessons in one season 🤕 To fans it felt like 54 more years of heartbreak in one 🥴 They better come back ready to compete in 25/26 & not take anything for granted #Canucks How did they end up with more points than the Rags? 🤣 JT didn't help?
— lady🇨🇦 luck🇨🇦 canuck (@ladyluckcanuck.bsky.social) April 16, 2025 at 10:49 PM
Anything else? Yes!
Happy Retirement Pat! 45 years as the behind the bench equipment guy. 38 years with the Canucks!
Video Replaying
Shortie and Dave for one last ROG call.
GAME STATS
SHOTS
| PERIOD | VAN | VGK |
| 1st | 8 | 8 |
| 2nd | 5 | 12 |
| 3rd | 4 | 4 |
| TOTAL | 17 | 29 |
PLAYERS 'N TACO TALK
Kief gets to 19 goals. Got 424 hits. This season. Wanted more.
With 25 goals, Suter still disappointed in this season... but next season... ka-ching
Capt'n Huggie acknowledges Pat O'Neil. And the disappointing season.
Taco happy with the first part of the game... not so much the execution later on. And using adversity as motivation... also be heavy on pucks 'n stuff.
As disappointing as losing this game might be, it is a fitting end to the season... get a lead in the 1st, lose the lead in the 2nd and lose the game in the 3rd. What a season. To forget.
The regular season is over. One of the most irregular regulars in recent times. So many things went sideways. And we'll be here to dissect them over the coming months, it'll be like reliving it. Hmmm...
Oh well.... Go Jets!
