NUCKS GET A POINT - IN THE TOUGHEST TO WIN BUILDING - THE ROG!!!

This was 2nd hardest road game the Nucks have played. B-b-but it's a home game!

Exactly. The Nucks had won 4 games in the ROG this season. And lost 9. Now 10. Ouch!

But Demmmers is back! Yay!

Yes, but the rest of the Nucks didn't seem keen to go out and win it for Demmers. Altho... they sure let him get lotsa odd-man rushes and breakaway practice. That was nice.

Started about as well as the last ROG game. Nucks get the 1st goal. That's great, right?

And worse... the Nucks PP gives up the shortie as is some sort of tradition.... perhaps to honour JT's return this week? We don't know.

Despite outshooting the Blues by one, the Nucks trail. Not just on the scoreboard, but on the critical urgency board. But hey... can't fight that home disadvantage too hard.

In the 2nd, while game thread stamina was wavering, the Nucks were waiting for some teammate to put the team on their tired shoulders and get the next goal. No one really wanted that sorta responsibility.

Instead... the center ice ref makes a horrible call on Bess who was watching Parayanko lose an edge and fall. Center ice ref calls the looking too hard penalty on Bess.

The Nucks PK then gives up a goal they didn't need to, if they hadn't let that prime seam pass get through. 3-1 Blues. Thanks, Ref!

However, with that egregious made-up call and giving up a weak PK goal, the refs have to make up a make-up call and do.

Nucks get on the PP, don't give up another shortie and even better, Blue defenders and goalie lose their sticks. It's a 5-on-3 with a side of hockey karma.

Nucks can pass the puck with little interference - which is a nice change from earlier in the game. Pete tosses a pass for a Gnarly backdoor, but Parayanko who wished he didn't have a stick, tips Pete's pass past his goalie.

Wooo! Ref Justice is served. Kinda. 3-2 Blues after 2.

Crucial Moments

The Nucks start the 3rd determined to tie the game. How determined? So determined they wait until the period is half over to get their 1st shot on net. Off the stick of speedy Sasson, who needs to add a little more finish to his speediness.

It's a Blue clog all over the ice - Nucks keep looking for the roto-man. And finally with Demmers back on the bench, in the final couple minutes, Nucks get the tying goal - Pete passes out front to Jake who puts it up top.

3-3 after 3 and the Nucks aren't pointless.

Save that for OT as the Nucks barely get a single touch on the puck.

Remember on the road when the Nucks obeyed the Possession is 99% of Law law? Well... the Nucks didn't. Couldn't win a face off, couldn't get the puck back, but for one brief moment when Bess got it at his own blueline and had a clear path up ice. Instead he turns back and turns over the puck.

Moments later the Blues score on the rush as Soucy is tired and barely has the energy to wave his stick. Ugh. Also... why did Taco put Soup out for OT? Oh... right, he scratched Branny and Huggie can't play ALL the minutes. Dammit.

Blues win 4-3 in OT . The ROGing continues.

OBSERVATIONS

Great to see Demko back in net, even it was early season Demmers. Did stop some crazy breakaways tho. Nucks gave up 5 oddman/breakaways. Nice way to say welcome back, Thatcher!

Nucks got outworked by the Blues most of the game. Perhaps out-coached as that last change thing seems tougher that Taco would like.

Nucks iced the puck so many times... Couldn't get clean breakout passes or carry the puck into the Blues zone as often as needed.

This was another game where we missed JT in the dot. And JT driving into the zone and generating chances.

Huggie despite 30 minutes of ice time saw his point streak stopped. JR/PA need to find another decent D before Quinn is worn out before spring.

Nucks PP went 1 for 3 on the power play... and played clownshoes style in the 1st leading to the shortie against.

Anything else? Yes!

Only 3 more Nucking games stuck in the ROG.

Video Replay

Shortie and Dave covering the home of horrors and loser points.

GAME STATS

PLAYER POINTS

SHOTS

PLAYERS 'N TACO TALK

Demko shaking the rust off his 1st post-game presser this season!

Josh gets his 1st goal of the season and a presser.

Pete gets goals, points and a presser.

Taco Talks Pockets - dodges the D-questions. And pushes back on the Pete queries.

Nucks get another common home loss. The home disadvantage extends deep into the ROG'd 4-6-4 home record.

Maybe JT will be back to take on Barkov and the Cats on Thursday. So... scheduled loss? Not to get all sunshine and wins, we can hope the Nucks get one regulation win in the remaining ROG tilts. Be nice to get it on HNIC on Saturday.