Come For The Banter - Stay For The Disappointment
Nucks Fan Rebuild & Retool Center - Come For The Banter - Stay For The Disappointment
Great News! Nucks Can Play Pond Hockey!
Bad news... Pond hockey is tough on the blood pressure.
The Nucks first trip to the pond in Disneyland. Most of us weren't aware that the top team in the Pacific were practitioners of the structureless puck-hogging run and gun and gun some more style. Also... I wasn't aware of the defense optional process.
Supposedly, the new Duckies can play defense once they get lead early. However, they didn't get the lead early. Or ever, but that's giving away the insane ups and downs we went through to the EN GWG.
Long before the pond fully iced over, we got to see the Canucks backup backup backup goalie keep the 0-0 tie despite all the Ducking shots and pressure. Which allowed the kidz to shine.
The Calder Cup champs open the scoring. Bains sets up the play with a Bainian spin move, gets the puck back to the M-point. MPetey puts a shot off the boards behind the net. Comes out front, somehow nicks Sassy and bounces to Karlsson at the side of the half open net and it's 1-0 Nucks in Disneyland.
Those Abby Boiz strike!!! Yippee! #canucks
— 🇨🇦 Bi Polar Guide 🇨🇦 pronouns: who, whom, whoever, whomever. (@bipolarguide.bsky.social) November 26, 2025 at 7:27 PM
But wait! There's more! Nucks get a PP and the 2nd unit gets a goal. Kane scores! Not making it up. Puck on a platter setup from Willander.
Kane! What? Should I cheer? Fuck, decisions.
-- Twitch
Trade value, baby!
-- Thursday
Nucks lead 2-nothing after 1. Stop the game now!
EVANDER KANE’S VALUE WILL NEVER BE HIGHER - TRADE HIM!!! #Canucks
— CrankyCanucksFan 🇨🇦🏒 (@crankycanucksfan.bsky.social) November 26, 2025 at 7:34 PM
In the last 30 seconds of the 1st, Kane takes a cross-checking penalty. Not the worst penalty he's ever taken.
Pond hockey special in the back half of the period, holy cow!
Okay, Kane got that penalty, but can't say I blame him. HUGE pressure by Anaheim.
-- Thursday
However... means the Nucks start the 2nd on their PK.
That's not a good way to start a period. Despite the Nucks embracing Footey's over-manning the puck carrier directive, directly - can't clear the puck. Leaves the sun lotion guy, LaCombe wide open to pick his spot and beat Tolo. Duck PP scores just 9 seconds in.
#Canucks with the 3-guys-on-the-wall PK strategy. Cross that one off the list.
— Ryan avgtraveller (@viewfromtherog.bsky.social) November 26, 2025 at 8:02 PM
Maybe try 4 guys next time... escalate!
— NucksMisconduct (@nucksmisconduct.bsky.social) November 26, 2025 at 8:05 PM
Fortunately, some 9 minutes later, the Nucks best line gets it back. The Bess/Kemppph/Gnarly line. Incredible goal by Gnarland considering we wondered if he'd spend the game visiting the Faeries after blocking a shot with his foot in the 1st. Highlight reel goal! Brock and Willie with the assists.
#Canucks Kierszenstat of the Game: Tom Willander is the first Swedish-born defenceman in franchise history to record a multi-assist game before his 21st birthday
— Adam Kierszenblat (@adamkblat.bsky.social) November 26, 2025 at 8:24 PM
Brock coulda had a couple goals too. So many great chances. Spoiled by opposing players and their goalie and his equipment.
Karlsson the opening goal hero goes off for tripping Mrrriiizek...
Mrazek with a veteran penalty draw, there. Harrumph.
-- Thursday
Just as the penalty ended, ducking shucking Ducks get all scrambly wambly in front to Tolo while he goes one direction, the puck goes in several - finally lands in the unprotected slot. No Nucks available to stop the puck from being slammed into the freshly vacated Nucking net. Grrr...
Slot? We don't need to protect no stinking slot, eh, #Canucks
— NucksMisconduct (@nucksmisconduct.bsky.social) November 26, 2025 at 8:35 PM
Nucks super safe 2 goal lead is not not safe no more.
So the Nucks decide to make this wild wide open game more interesting... as the Nucks press in the Duck puddle, with Kane, of course, not doing the strong board work as specified in his contract, the Ducks pluck the puck up ice for a 2-on-1 against... with only the veteran Nucks defender of chaos between them and a sure goal.
Of course that goal started with Kane #Canucks
— thegreatdandino (@thegreatdandino.bsky.social) November 26, 2025 at 8:37 PM
And the #Ducks tie it. D MIA. #Canucks
— LesnielBC 🇨🇦 (@lesnielbc.bsky.social) November 26, 2025 at 8:37 PM
Tied 3-3 after 2 and the Duck pond has been flooded with back 'n forth action with nary a care about structure or defense. And we just don't care.
This #Canucks #Ducks game is way more entertaining than most of Vancouver’s recent games. It might be scramble and chaotic, but at least players are skating and working hard.
— LesnielBC 🇨🇦 (@lesnielbc.bsky.social) November 26, 2025 at 8:36 PM
As is the game time insta-tradition, 3rd period, like the 2nd starts with Nucks on the PK. That's just great.
End of another period, another PK to start the next one... We asked for more #Canucks consistency... but not like that.
— NucksMisconduct (@nucksmisconduct.bsky.social) November 26, 2025 at 8:42 PM
It’s always the same, whatever point in the season: The #Canucks can’t be good enough when they need to be good, and can’t suck enough when they need to suck.
— CrankyCanucksFan 🇨🇦🏒 (@crankycanucksfan.bsky.social) November 26, 2025 at 8:48 PM
Amazingly the league's worst PK kills this one off and the next 3 after that... but the back and forth chances are still frequent and often. This track meet ain't over until track is worn out. Or the fans. Or both.
Fun stuff early when EP40 breaks in on Mzzzrble goalie who feigns life-threatening injury. Petey to the box and the Nucks PK goes to work... outworking the pucking Ducks PP to get a 2-on-none shortie chance for Sherwood and Kampf. Not making it up. To be fair... Sherwood was breaking away from Kampfer. Anyhow... Sherwood on his breakaway puts it off the post. Deep groans in NuckNation pinged loudly.
Don’t see that too often, a 2-man breakaway shorthanded. #Canucks
— LesnielBC 🇨🇦 (@lesnielbc.bsky.social) November 26, 2025 at 9:07 PM
Sherwood didn't recognize Kämpf as a Canuck on that shoulder check. #Canucks
— Ryan avgtraveller (@viewfromtherog.bsky.social) November 26, 2025 at 9:07 PM
Then at the 16 minute point of the high tension game between the best in the Pacific vs nearly the worst, a fateful faceoff is won by O'Connor. Huggie at the line passes to Ronnie who scoots down the boards and shoots the puck on net. (NOTE: earlier he declined shooting into the near empty net - for inexplicable reasons)... anyhow he shoots on net and some wild puckery ensued. Bounces off Sassy and hits a stuck Duck skate and in.
GOOOOAALL!!! #Canucks
— CrankyCanucksFan 🇨🇦🏒 (@crankycanucksfan.bsky.social) November 26, 2025 at 9:31 PM
Nucks lead 4-3 with a few minutes to play!
Ducks pluck their plucky goalie to schmuck the puck with muck, but no luck as Petey snuck the puck from a Duck and while frucked flat on the ice passes the puck out of his zone where O'Connor chucks the puck past the dumbstruck Ducks into that fowl empty net.
O'Connor gets the empty, making up for his penalty earlier.
Back to the most dangerous lead, with not much game to go!
-- Thursday
It's the GWG! Because the Ducks struck in the last 7 seconds to make a very edgy last ruckus.
Nucks fluck the Ducks 5-4 in the Disney pond!
Quack quack F’ers #Canucks
— Bjarn D (@bjarndawg.bsky.social) November 26, 2025 at 9:37 PM
It's a Canucks road win! Haven't seen one of those... in too long.
OBSERVATIONS:
#Canucks Quinn Hughes has 20 assists in 19 games this season. It is the third time in his career he will have at least 20 assists in his first 20 games. Only defenders that have three or more seasons with 20 assists in first 20 games are Orr, Coffey, Makar, Housley and Potvin.
— Adam Kierszenblat (@adamkblat.bsky.social) November 26, 2025 at 9:44 PM
#Canucks Quinn Hughes is now up to 370 career assists. That ranks 12th all-time among defensemen before their 27th birthday. Hughes only recently turned 26 so he has 10 months to move up the list. All-time record is held by Bobby Orr, who had 624 assists in his first 631 games.
— Adam Kierszenblat (@adamkblat.bsky.social) November 26, 2025 at 9:59 PM
For one brief night the full rebuild is off the table. We just want to watch entertaining games.
We can beat anybody!!!. Except at HOME!!!! #Canucks
— DJTaxman77 (@hugheshart43.bsky.social) November 26, 2025 at 9:33 PM
Anaheim's pond hockey is awful dang exciting to watch, whichever team you support! Whew! Fun game, glad Tolopilo got the win, and Conor Garland's goal is going to be on repeat tonight! Coconuts, go! #Canucks
— Erin Butler (@eleighbutler.bsky.social) November 26, 2025 at 9:50 PM
The new rebuild plan is to offer Quinn the biggest ever NHL contract - like $160M. Uncertain if that's per season, but that's not the point. The Canucks can offer Huggie the most money over time. If he says no next summer, then we fire his agent.
No one who watches Quinn play should seriously think the best course for this team is a 7 year rebuild. There is no one better to watch. In 50 years he is the most entertaining player I've seen except for Gretzky, who I couldn't stand. #Canucks
— DJTaxman77 (@hugheshart43.bsky.social) November 26, 2025 at 10:06 PM
GAME HIGHLIGHTS
Shortie and Dave have to comment nicely about things they'd rather shout about!
GAME STATS
COMMENTING OUT LOUD
Getting Sassy.
Multi-point Tom having fun - out on the pond.
Footey (secretly) liking the pond hockey ethos.
Fun, fun game! Not just because we won - although that is the serious fun we really needed - but because the 2nd worst team in the division beat the best team on their own pond.
As much fun as we had, be even more fun, if this team (while they're still together) can string together 2 wins in a row. Gonna be interesting to be in the tank on Friday. And hopefully more road fun!
