THIS IS WHY WE DON'T LIKE ROAD HOCKEY

To Nucks fans, an early eastern road trip to the Swamp World is the stuff of momentary dread. Dread no more.

For the 1st time this young and naïve season, the Nucks WIN a hockey game. Yes, it did take an extra few minutes and gave a possible arch rival a loooser point. But we don't care. Nucks got double points for winning OT. How cool is that?

Nucks get the 1st goal of the game in the 1st. Teddy wraps a wrap-around puck right around Bob. At 1st no one noticed it was a goal... they're slow that way in the whine-making NHL... no Nucking goals before their time.

Anyhow... Nucks lead 1-0. For what seemed like almost 10 seconds. Cats even it up and it's 1-1 after 1.

In the 2nd the Nucks get to restore their lead, their mojo, their easy dominance of the reigning Cup champs. Didn't look easy, but Huggie sure makes skating, shooting, scoring look easier than any Nucking D in Nucking history. Quinning with a blast past Bob and it's 2-1 Nucks,

However, but at least more than 10 seconds later, felt like many tense minutes later, the Champ Cats tie it up after the refs make a make-up call on Ronnie.

2-2 after 2. What are we going to do to not worry about blowing the lead in the 3rd? Don't know.

The titans of SoBeach hockey (while missing many key forwards) battle with the False Creek Falcons of Puckery. Or something. Nothing was decided. Except the Nucks won the period by not losing in the period.

In OT, the Nucks as they have in every game this season surprised us all by taking all the shots and all the goals in OT. Shame JT only got the one goal. Been nice if got 2 more in OT off the slick setup from Huggie. But still...

NUCKS WIN! In SoBeach! Defeat the champs 3-2!

To be fair... the Cats were playing without some top forwards... I'd mention them, but they're a bunch of showboats who already gotta a ring.

Good tough game, with both goalies playing very well. On contract value per save though, Lanky was the clear winner, with .929 SV%. Billion dollar Bob got paid way more for losing.

OBSERVATIONS

Quinn is the best player on the Canucks. His dekes, skating, shooting, thinking is the best we've seen from a Nucks D - ever. He's the superstar of the team and deserves to be paid like one.

How was our current getting paid like a superstar in the game? Better. Possibly. More engaged, despite getting no points, no apples, no goals but 1 SOG and evens on +/-, so definitely earned his overpay on the night.

Anything else? Sure. Special teams. Nucks PK weren't perfect - gave up a goal. Nucks PP scored no goals on 2 pathetic chances. Nucks need at least 5 PP chances to get a goal. Again, the NHL is so unfair.

Video Replay

Shortie and Dave on the beach, helping the Nucks get a W and Lu to find his shoes.

GAME STATS

PLAYERS 'N TACO TALK

Lanky holding fort against Bob and now the Vancouver media.

Teddy talking about the margins - and getting on the right side of them.

JT wins the game and presser.

Taco Talks Tough about good possession and winning in OT.

Nucks get a couple days to get better, as they head north to play those bullies in Philly. Only fair the Nucks ruin their home game.

The benchmark, the watermark, the remark of stats balance, achieved as the Nucks are 1-1-2 which gives them 3 points in 4 games. That's not so bad.

Could this be this season's turnaround point? Let's wait a bit to ask that one.