Nucks Defeat McOil 6-5 in OT! (not making it up)

Rebuild is complete! Canucks tied for the league lead!

Under promise and over deliver. That's what the new Nucks white-collars have done all summer. Low expectations, high standards.

This opening game has proved the Canucks chose the best coach to lead this (nearly) complete contender. Manny is undefeated at the NHL level. Sure... small sample size, also what is sure, he has prepared this team very well.

How well? Better than we could have hoped for. Canucks open this season in the basement of Oil Town. A rink filled with hideous hi-vis safety vests for the loyal oil fans. Turns out they were actually life vests...

Canucks' new Canuck, Cotter scored the game opening goal. On the PK! No, really.

Unsurprisingly, Oil tied it. 1-1 after 1. And Nucks are leading. Not on the shot clock. That was 13-5 for the oily hosts. Nucks were leading on the underdog clock. And Lanky was dialed in.

In the 2nd, the Nucks score 1st again.

Öhgren sends a spinorama pass up ice to Rossi who skates in on jittery Jary to score.

2 goals on 6 shots! When will the coilers turn their attention to getting a goaltender?

-- Ripper

Sure... the Boooochard'd Oil tie it up. Doesn't matter. We're still winning. Even on the shot clock. Almost, as the Oil outshot us a little, 9-7.

We're so ready for the 3rd. The host teams and fans not so much. In the opening 5 minutes Canucks take over the game. For real.

Lasermäki shoots a laser right through Jary. 3-2 Nucks.

Then Maximum Sassy puts on the jets as McJ gives up the puck at the Nucks end. Passes to DOC, who passes back to Speedy Sassy who whips the puck through the jittery wickets. 4-2 Nucks.

Into the first 12 seconds of the Nucks first PP of the game, Petey tips Ronnie's shot. 5-2 Nucks.

Nucks, the (allegedly) worst team in league are up 3 goals on the (allegedly) 2nd or 3rd best team in the division.

A few minutes later our old Podz beats Lanky. We dinna care. The Nucks are playing way better than expected.

Then it's time in the well-oiled rink for the refs to make the ice slimy. Think they call it 'working the refs' in the NHL. In Oil Town they call it entitled to many favourable calls.

And the Oil don't score on it. But Boooochars pots another for the hattie. We don't care. We're still winning.

But then... the refs jobbed us again. Karlsson is called for slashing Eckholm... he didn't... Eckholm mugged Karlson - and we're penalized for it.

With less than 2 minutes to go in the 3rd, Oil have to go 6 on 4 to get the tie. Wimps.

We still don't care. Sure it was a little upsetting for the Oil and their NHL officials to get back to the odd even tie, but it doesn't matter to us.

Wow.
Only the first game, but it may end up to be the most exciting game of the season.

-- Atty

This game was supposedly going to end with the Oil entitled to a 5-1 bruising of our basement club. Not on this night, ya Babbsies.

3-ON-3 OT

OMG! OMG! McSaddles in OT are so going to win, because Gary designed this extra period for the Elites to watch the Elites score goals. Lots of goals. Or just the one.

And yet... in lunchbucket fantasy fashion, it ain't McD nor Dry, nor EP40, but the Nucks (potent) 4th liners, Sassy and Cotter who outwork the foiled oil in their own end. Cotter takes the puck away gets knocked down for his troubles, passes to Sassy while laying on the ice. Gets back up to take the pass back from Sassy and calmly, cooly in simple 4th liner style dekes out Jary to score the GWG! THE GWG!

Underdog Nucks defeat the overdog Oilers 6-5 in the best game of the season!

WOOOOO!!!

Score first in the first; first in the second; first in the third; first in overtime!

-- Thursday

PAUL COTTER OPENS IT, PAUL COTTER CLOSES IT!

-- Thursday

HIGHLIGHTS

So Manny highlights... shame sportynet cheaped-out with homer-oil coverage. Oh well... we dinna care!

Wanna watch the full OT as the McOil lose? Of course, you do.

POST GAME CHATTER! Wooo!

Petey and Manny talk about this early season barn burner.

This was a statement game. What a wonderful statement.

Also...savour the moment... We're #1. Pretty much.

Not that we're counting wins and points... just enjoying the process - an energized process where the Nucks are playing like a team that plays for each other - already. Manny wins on his NHL coaching debut - his new team won on their debut. We can't ask for better.

Enjoy the next 83 games!

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

-- Thursday