Great Tanking News! Last Place Locked!

Good news... Canucks played great and outscored Wild. In 1 of 3 periods.

Here's what we learned:

Canucks won the 1st period! No, really.

The 2nd of road B-2-B games have never been easy Canucks games to watch. Especially this season. And especially after watching last night's astonishing win over the best team in hockey.

Getting into their hotel at 2:30AM on game day to face what's-his-name and the 3rd best team in the conference was a stroke of malice from NHL schedule and pain center.

Oh well... Nucks played as hard as they partied on the plane.

Finally! The #Canucks can go ahead and win out without any risk to their draft position! WHEW!

— Erin Butler (@eleighbutler.bsky.social) April 2, 2026 at 8:06 PM

Tanks for watching!

Period 1

Nucks gave up the 1st goal of the game mid-1st. Scored by some 40 goal scoring kid.

Canucks came right back and took the lead.

Nucks took the 1st penalty.

DOC says hello to what's-his-name and is penalized for it. Typical #Canucks.

— NucksMisconduct (@nucksmisconduct.bsky.social) April 2, 2026 at 5:34 PM

Nucks PK were killing it off - but before it could finish, who-the-Ek put the game into 4-on-4 mode.

With more room to skate, Sassy breaks into the wild zone, drops to Teddy. Puts a shot wide - just as he intended. Bounces off the boards to Willi to pound into the open net.

1-1 and the Nucks are going for more. No, really.

Nucks get on their PP and score!

Ronnie's shot hits the crossbar and rebounds out. DeBruck whacks the puck out of mid-air into the net. Boom!

Nucks leading 2-1 after 1. Shot clock can barely keep up. Nucks had 14, Wild 15 in the period.

How are the #Canucks even scoring without Kane in the lineup😉

— Ralph In The Ridge🇨🇦 (@ralphintheridge.bsky.social) April 2, 2026 at 5:56 PM

Taking a one goal lead into the 2nd on the 2nd of a road B-2-B. No problem.

Refreshingly-spirited first period by the #Canucks and they lead the Hughes-led Wild 2-1….sadly, as Canuck fans know well, there is then the 2nd period

— rodmickleburgh.bsky.social (@rodmickleburgh.bsky.social) April 2, 2026 at 6:11 PM

Period 2

You may have heard that 2nd periods are not the Nucks luckiest period. At home or on the road.

While the Nucks got an altitude exception to the dreaded 2nd, it was back with a vengeance - just 23 seconds in. Zeev whiffed on a pass at Wild blue - unfortunate. 40 goal Boldy was the whifferee and broke in alone on Tolo to score. Even more unfortunate.

Tied 2-2.

Then the Wild's other 40 goal scorer scored as the Footey D-zone coverage was uncovered.

3-2 home team.

Fun part.

What's-his-name breaks his stick on the back of Douglas.

What's-his-name to the box for chopping Douglas Fir without a permit. #Canucks

— NucksMisconduct (@nucksmisconduct.bsky.social) April 2, 2026 at 6:21 PM

The 3rd best team in the west leads 3-2 after 2. Outshooting tired Nucks 11-5.

But we're not giving up last night's fading glow without some words.

On the bright side, it not for three brutal turnovers from the defencemen it'd be 2-0 #Canucks

— Lachlan Irvine (@lachinthecrease.com) April 2, 2026 at 6:20 PM

Period 3

Again some less than stellar D-performance in front of Tolo and it's 4-2 Wild mid-period.

Oof. Caught in the defensive end again, dang it.

Skating uphill, now.

-- Thursday

Period grinds on without the Nucks beating Gusty the goalie again.

As it grinds down, you know what happens...

Foote gifting goals again. #Canucks

— Snowstar444 (@snowstar444.bsky.social) April 2, 2026 at 7:31 PM

Doesn't matter. This was a win-win game, no matter what.

With the 5-2 loss Nucks have locked down last place. No other team can beat us to 32nd place.

I know that doesn't sound like much of win. Probably won't be due to the Daly balls of lotto chance. However, guaranteed to pick no lower than 3rd.

#Canucks will have the best odds at first overall for the 2026 NHL Entry Draft

— Adam Kierszenblat (@adamkblat.bsky.social) April 2, 2026 at 7:41 PM

Best odds. To pick 3rd.

We are now officially 32nd and last in the league.

Time for a seven-game win streak! YEEE-HAW!

-- Thursday

OBSERVATIONS:

The pressure of basement maintenance is over!

Players of Interest:

• Willi is making some noise on the rookie-D list.

#Canucks Kierszenstat of the Game: Tom Willander scores his fifth goal of the season. That ties Bob Manno and Barry Wilkins for the 11th most in franchise history for goals by a rookie defenceman.

— Adam Kierszenblat (@adamkblat.bsky.social) April 2, 2026 at 5:47 PM

Good game... other than the gaffs and young D glitches.

Second of a back to back, vs a vastly superior opponent… I’d say our boys did as well as could be expected. #Canucks

— CrankyCanucksFan 🇨🇦🏒 (@crankycanucksfan.bsky.social) April 2, 2026 at 7:42 PM

Not mad at this one. Good effort in the 2nd game of a B2B. I didn't feel they were totally out of this game until the very end. The rookies will learn from their mistakes, I'm sure of it. 💙💚🏒 QH was meh lol #Canucks

— lady🇨🇦 luck🇨🇦 canuck (@ladyluckcanuck.bsky.social) April 2, 2026 at 7:45 PM

Oh well... can't win 'em all! But they can win the remaining game with impunity!

Altho... next season ticket promo is a bit... ummm... pricey!

GAME HIGHLIGHTS

Shortie and Dave Ferrari calling all the goals... so many goals!

GAME STATS

COMMENTING OUT LOUD

DeBrusk scores DePresser.

Footey with his 8th last presser?

What a trip! It's over.

Back to ROGing it on Saturday versus a team of woolies. Enjoy final the 7.