TOUGH GAME - TOUGH LOSS. NUCKS HOCKEY IS BRUTAL.

This was a more winnable game for the Canucks than the last one. Despite playing the top team of the Metro. Nucks kept the Ovi off the board. And outplayed the Caps in the final 40.

Other than giving up that 1st goal in the 1st and Huggie getting mauled, Nucks played a great road game. Be much greater if they'd won it, but no worries. In the remaining season, if the Nucks win at least 7 or 8 games in regulation (it's possible) and collect 34-35 more loser points, they'd probably make the 2nd season.

Maybe not the best strategy, but maybe until BC Faeries stop feasting on our players, could be workable, without having to trade anyone while losing the trade.

1ST

As is the new Nucking home and away tradition Nucks give up the 1st goal in the 1st.

And then the DC Goon Squad does the goonish thing. Prep for the 20th, perhaps? Don't know.

Nucks got a 4 minute PP out of the melee, but Quinn was in the box for 2 or 3 mins and Nucks can't score. And worse, after the melee had been ref-solved, Hughes got mugged by Pierre Du Thug. NHL officials are still discussing how they could give Quinn another penalty for something else.

1-0 Cappies after 1.

2ND

This was the best period the Nucks have played in the road trip. Maybe the best all season. Seems like a season high for shots in a single period. 21 shots in the period! While limiting the goonie Caps to only 5 shots on goal. Impressive.

Nucks had 21 shots get through to Logan Thompson and didn't get a single goal. Nucks have had less shots in an entire game and not get a single goal! You see where this is going...

The Nucks finally get a single goal in the last 30 seconds of the 2nd. On the Nucking PP! That's permitted now since Huggie is back on point and picking lanes. Huggie puts a shot on Logan who delivers a delish rebound out front to his left. So delish that Gnarland pounces on the morsel and we're tied!

Nucks lead 1-1 after 2. It's not a tie, Nucks have beaten the Caps on shot count, defensively, morally and decisively. But the NHL doesn't agree... so...

3RD

1-1 tie game in the 3rd and we're not worried. Even if Soup spills pucks. Doesn't matter.

Doesn't matter, because the Nucks are the better team on the night and just have to bury their next 21 shots in the period. Except... Nucks don't get 21 shots on net. But oh well... one of the 6 woulda/shoulda/coulda.

Meanwhile the Nucks D limit the Cap rioters to only 2 shots.

3rd ends in another 1-1 tie. How is this possible? We don't know.

OT

Unfortunately, Taco says he can't play Huggie for the full OT period. Don't know why... better option than Myers trying to do Huggie things like skate behind the Caps net after missing his pass to DeBrusk or DeBrusk not playing with a 10 foot stick. Whatever.

Caps come back the other way and score, because... of course Myers and DeBrusk need to follow one guy into the corner leaving DuThug unhampered... for reasons. Nucks 10th OT loss. So far. 35 doesn't seem that far away.

OBSERVATIONS

Huggie dominated the game. He is without any doubt the Nucks best player. Unfortunate he's not also six-five and 250 and could beat the snot out of Wilson and Dubois.

Hughes sets up the near winning goal while playing with a hand brace. He's tough and talented. And he too, is looking forward to Ronnie's return.

Nucks have played 2 good games so far on this trip and haven't been rewarded. Hockey gawds aren't fair.

Anything else? Yes!

Only 3 more horrible eastern road games left!

Video Replay

No idea what happened to the sportynet game recap video... instead it's the official NHL video. But we're not too pleased with NHL officials.

Want to see the Nucks in OT get a point?

GAME STATS

PLAYER POINTS

SHOTS

PLAYERS 'N TACO TALK

Capt'n Huggie pushes back on the idiotic reffing.

Taco Talks about working hard and how lucky we are to have Huggie.

Fun game. In the tight stingy, low-scoring Taco Tough hockey sort of way.

Now the fun part is over, we gotta hope Demmers is good to go, because the B-2-B nightmare begins on Friday in one of the Carolinas. The NHL schedulers evil plan peaks on Saturday in the CoTU on HNIC.

Will Pete join the group by Saturday or will he be on a bus to Boofoolow? We don't know. I know, there's so much we don't know. That fact alone is good to know, though.

We got another loser point. Still we want more. It's a big ask, but can we win on Saturday in the CoTU on HNIC just for the yucks? Make it so, Capt'n.