BLOW THE LEAD - LOSE THE GAME. NUCKS HOCKEY IS BRUTAL.

This was a winnable game for the Canucks. Probably more winnable than the remaining games on this eastern tour through hell.

However, this version of the Nucks while capable of getting a lead, doesn't remember how to keep it. It's the 12th time Nucks have lost while taking a lead into the 3rd. The NHL record so far this season is losing after leading is13 games. Something to shoot for?

42-1-4. That's last year's Nucks record when leading after 2. Seems like a big gap.

On the bright side, for the 9th time this season, Nucks get that invaluable loser point.

JT had his best game since his return, was in on every Nucks goal. Unfortunately not coupled with the best road win so far.

Although it was a 9 goal game so it was entertaining. Sort of.

1ST

Nucks give up the 1st goal in the 1st. It's their best chance at a comeback win, right?

However, JT opens the Nucking comeback with a rocket.

Even better, Hogz gets the primary assist with a quick cross-ice pass to JT.

1-1 after 1.

2ND

In the first 10 minutes, the Nucks took over the game. No, really. Slowed down the Habs and gained the important (and dreaded) lead.

Early in the 2nd JT scores again. With an apple for Lekkerimaki,

When JT is on his game... makes us wonder about stuff...

20 some seconds later, JT passes from behind his own net to Brock who hits Lekkerimaki for a 2-on-1. A 2-on-1 with Myers. Who Lekkerimaki looks off and puts a sniper's snipe past the goalie.

Nucks are up 3-1. With the formerly safest lead in hockey, do the Nucks want to take a chance on safety?

Nope. Soup wanted to clear the puck out of his zone, but doesn't. Neither does Soup want to screen Lanky, but does.

Game thread understands.

Nucks lead 3-2 after 2. No worries.

3RD

It's the 3rd, and the worry time begins.

And of course, instead of pressing the Habs, Nucks revert to their passive form and the Nucking PK doesn't return to their strong form and give up an early goal.

And worse... Huggie gets an own goal off his skate from a shot from Montreal's mini-Huggie. Ugie.

Habs are up 4-3 and it's not fair to us - and our delicate Nucking grasp of sanity.

Doesn't matter. What matters is the Nucks get a PP of their own, after a petulant Caufieldie takes a retaliatory penalty.

And, you won't believe it, but the Nucks PP scores a mere 10 seconds after puck drop. Huggie passes to JT, who goes down hill looking to shoot, but passes to a wide open DeBrusk, who scores into the near open net. Wooo!

All tied up and anything can happen. But it's late 3rd and that means bad things for Nucks.

Especially since Taco has Hogz and Juuls on the ice in the last minute... trying to preserve the tie? We don't know.

And worse, Hogz loses his stick and takes a weak call - an interference call for possibly shoving or something.

Ugh.

Nucks PK at least keeps our flickers of faint hope flickering into OT. Where they dose them in loser point water.

It certainly was. An entertaining and disturbing Nucks performance. Obviously lack the confidence to lock down a game when leading. Which is unfortunate, since the NHL regulation rules state the winning team must be leading at the buzzer.

OBSERVATIONS

JT would have been the 1st star of the game, if the Nucks had won it. He was in beast mode:

2 goals | 2 assists | 4 points | 5 hits | 2 Blocked Shots | +3 | TOI: 18:37 - Impressive!

Great to have Huggie back to bolster the saggy Nucking D. Got 2 points while playing with some sort of hand brace. If only he had his full time partner back too. But Ronnie isn't scheduled to return until Feb.

Lekkerimaki gets dropped onto the 1st line and gets a goal and apple. Nice drop.

Unfortunately, Nucks 2nd line of PDG, Suter and Gnarland got crushed. Generated little and got out-chanced 13-0 or some other bad stat, like being -2 or -1 on the +/- thingie.

We won't complain anymore about the Soup. He's off the ice now. We know the Nucks need to bolster their D. Nucks management know. Coaches know too. So much knowing, not enough doing. Maybe they trade for an actual top-4 D before the TDL and the season is lost. Maybe.

On the silver-lining record side... Sherwood recorded 10 hits for the 5th time this season. He's the 1st player in NHL history to record at least 10 hits in 5 games. Tommy Wingles and Jeremy Lauzon, had the record at 4.

Anything else? Yes!

Only 4 more horrible eastern road games left!

Video Replay

It's Monday Night Prime coverage... with some experienced Habs Homers.

GAME STATS

PLAYER POINTS

SHOTS

PLAYERS 'N TACO TALK

Capt'n Huggie is back on the ice and the mic.

JT had his best game (2 goals, 2 assists) in a long time. If only the Nucks could keep a lead.

Taco Talks about giving - giving away goals. He's looking as tired and frustrated as if this was game 5 of the trip.

Fun game. Or would have been if the Nucks could keep a lead.

Now the uglies get really ugly. Nucks play the far-too-hot, top of the Metro Caps on Wednesday. Penciled in as regulation loss. Then it's wonderful NHL schedulers evil plan - a B-2-B with the Canes and CoTU. The 2nd game of the B-2-B on Saturday on HNIC. So much losing to come.

Time to tighten our girdles, gird our sagging loins and and desperately hope for another loser point.