Great News! Nucks didn't get blown out 10-0.

Bad news... Nucks lose to a far, far better team.

Here's what we learned: The top of the NHL is waaaay up there. Far out of sight of the basement.

As far as scheduled losses go, this one was par for the losing. Canucks as constructed and deconstructed by the Faeries do not have the skill to run with the big dogs. Few teams do. ATM, no teams do, since Colo hasn't lost a regulation game since Nov 1st. And only a single OT loss since then. They're pretty good.

Nucks start the 1st with the 1st goal of the game. As the Calder Cup Kids combined for a great rush up ice and Karlsson scored for the Nucks.

Wooo! Linus scores for the #Canucks! 4th line magic!

— NucksMisconduct (@nucksmisconduct.bsky.social) December 2, 2025 at 6:15 PM

3 minutes into the 1st period and the Nucks scoring has concluded for the night. B-b-but there's so much farther to go.

And yet, despite getting hammered on the shot clock we, mistakenly, felt the Nucks could take the lead into the inter.

In the last minute of the period, the Nucking lead seemed assured. But for that rebound Lanky couldn't control. But for Joseph not being strong enough on Big Mack as the rebound Lanky couldn't control bounded right to MacKinnon who scores into a near open net.

"Ok boys here's the plan: nobody take Mackinnon, he sucks anyways."

-- Twitch

Leaving Nathan MacKinnon unchecked facing a wide open net may not be a successful gameplan for the #Canucks

— Adam Kierszenblat (@adamkblat.bsky.social) December 2, 2025 at 6:43 PM

MacKinnon, who ALWAYS scores against Vancouver, has scored. Game tied 1-1 #Canucks

— LesnielBC 🇨🇦 (@lesnielbc.bsky.social) December 2, 2025 at 6:42 PM

1-1 after 1. A tie with Avs isn't so bad. And more encouragingly, the Nucks PK kept all the high altitude super-shooters off the board. The 30th ranked PK beat the 25th ranked PP. Small victories.

A minute into the 2nd and the not always observant refs, call the 1st too many men penalty on the Avs, despite ignoring the previous too many in the 1st. Progress!

As expected with the single oppourtunity to regain the lead the Nucks PP doesn't score. Couple nice looks, but we don't get PP goals with good looks alone.

Later in the 2nd, with the Canucks high altitude flying diving for cover, the Avs took over rink. Over and over the Nucks were hemmed in their own end for minutes at a time. Barely getting a clear for partial line change, never mind a clean break out.

It'd be awesome to see the canucks actually make an effective breakout. We needed the avs to break it out for us.

-- Twitch

#Canucks  dump and chase game is older than my grandma 🤦🏽‍♂️

— Canucks Watcher (@canuckswatcher.bsky.social) December 2, 2025 at 7:26 PM

And then finally when the Nucks did venture into that unseen Avs zone, they get too deep, Ronnie is pinching and pinched to the wall, while Sassy can't keep up while watching Landeskog and Nelson zoom back to the more familiar Nucks zone with a 2-on-1 that Huggie can't break up. Nelson performs a stupid pet trick with his stick which confuses Lanky and it's 2-1 Avs.

As is now an instant tradition, in the final minute, Mack scores for the 3-1 Colo lead. Nucks have been outplayed and outshot 12-5 in the 2nd.

The 5v5 numbers for the Canucks are brutal • Bottom tier in xG share low offense + high-quality chances against • Poor finishing (GF < xGF) • Don’t score in leverage moments • COL sits in the elite tier while VAN is near the “bad” quadrant This team is really struggling at 5v5 🥴 #Canucks #NHLStats

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— Canucks Watcher (@canuckswatcher.bsky.social) December 2, 2025 at 7:32 PM

MacKinnon, who always scores against Vancouver, has scored, again. 3-1 Avs. #Canucks

— LesnielBC 🇨🇦 (@lesnielbc.bsky.social) December 2, 2025 at 7:34 PM

The #Canucks top line of Kane, Pettersson and Lekkerimäki are holding MacKinnon in check. MacKinnon has an xGF% of below six against all three of them in around 4 and a half minutes played at even strength. The problem for Vancouver is that he is cooking against the bottom six.

— Adam Kierszenblat (@adamkblat.bsky.social) December 2, 2025 at 7:54 PM

We might have hoped the Nucks would come out in the 3rd, reinvigorated by rookie coach pep talk.

But, natives in the game thread aren't impressed, they're restless, they're cranky and letting us know.

And what does Foote have to offer between periods? Everyone knows they’re gonna be moved in a fire sale. Hard to be invested at this point. I’m not seeing the “Hockey Mastermind” guy that JR got peddled to us as.

-- Rob Scott

You know it's not awful to lose to the avs, they are a fucking great team. But to lose to the avs not because they're great, but because we have zero offence, supremely mid goaltending, some ok defending...what the fuck kind of product did we build... AGAIN. Good god it makes me want to start cheering for someone else.

-- Twitch

Nailed it. And I see no light at the end of the tunnel. The Goldeneyes lookin’ good as second choice.

-- Rob Scott

Canucks mount a more compelling effort in the 3rd. Not compelling enough to score. Surprise!

Late 3rd appears that Kane is injured. Goes down the hall.

Oh shit Kane's injured? Finally petey can get an actual linemate #Canucks

— themerrydandino (@thegreatdandino.bsky.social) December 2, 2025 at 8:18 PM

Didn't help the Nucks top line as much as hoped.

As ever, Footry empties the net while the gassed Canucks empty the tank for the infamous 6-on-5 gambit.

How bad is it? We have the extra attacker, and ice the puck.

-- Rob Scott

Period ends in regulation with the Avs winning 3-1, their elventeenth win in a row.

Again a small victory as the Nucks didn't give up the EN. Micro-steps.

In some ways only losing 3-1 to the Avs is a victory #littlethings #Canucks

— Lachlan Irvine (@lachinthecrease.com) December 2, 2025 at 8:27 PM

OBSERVATIONS:

• Good to see the Calder Kids get on the board.
• Ummm... good to see how far this team needs to go to see another SCF.
• Huggie is possibly trying to win on his own, since it appears he's not into the team game as much.

Hughes ends the night with 12SA's. 4SOG, 5BLKd, 3missed. You HAVE to think that the team is telling him to STOP shooting the puck into people, it's not doing anything. He HAS to move the puck for other shooters because THAT will open lanes up for him to get his shot through. Ridiculous

-- ‪Petrishriekandgo on Bluesky

Bah. Say buhbye to hughes... no chance he stays for this garbage product.

-- Twitch

Trying to remain less critical in consideration of the endless injuries and the fact the team has been icing many AHL'ers, but I think I've had enough of the #Canucks this season.

— U-TurningPoint↩️ (@sp-arky.bsky.social) December 2, 2025 at 8:38 PM

A what-if wish:

Being competetive in a road game against one of the best teams in 20 years that is fully healthy without Demko, Garland, Chytil, Hoglander, and Blueger. It would be nice to see this #Canucks team healthy.

— DJTaxman77 (@hugheshart43.bsky.social) December 2, 2025 at 9:18 PM

GAME HIGHLIGHTS

Shortie and Dave calling all the Canuck goals... or just the one.

GAME STATS

COMMENTING OUT LOUD

Huggie, Karlsson and Footey presser.

Footey really likes Kaner - explains the 1st line minutes. Asked about the Kane injury, he stated he talked to Kane and wasn't worried. Many other Canucks players have been injured and Footey often responds with "I don't know" or "Need to check with the medical staff" - but Kane he's in there talking to him. Maybe nothing... or maybe Pete is stuck with Kane for all time. All time ending at the TDL. Hopefully.

Expected loss fulfilled. Toss it off the mountain and swoop back home.

Canucks get a few days off to rest and practice for the weekend B-2-B in the ROG.