GET THE LEAD. KEEP THE LEAD. HOCKEY IS SIMPLE.
It worked! Extended Saturday hockey hours is the secret to Nucking success.
It was a late (Saturday) afternoon game in ol' St Lou and Nucks played like it just another Saturday night in the ROG on HNIC. Even if some media big wheels called it Amazon Hockey Night Hockey or something strange on Monday.
2nd consecutive win! That's a TWO GAME WIN STREAK for those trying to keep up at home using only a single finger.
Also, good news! We didn't have to wait until 2030 for the 1st multi-game winning streak of 2025. Last 2 game regulation W-streak was in late November.
And the goals! So many Nucking goals!
1ST
Since it's still Saturday, Nucks are happy to start on time. Pushed the pace early. And often, pretty much. Limited the Blue team to just 4 shots in the period while putting a dozen on Mr. B.
The 1st Canucks goal scored by Gnarly, was setup by our Huggie. A stark reminder, as much we love the guy, to never play mini-golf against him for money. The defender goes face down early to block the 2-on-1 pass. But Mr. Mini-Golf slides the puck between the defender's skate toes and ankles. Gnarly gets the easy tap-in.
The next Nucks goal is again scored by Gnarland. On the PP! Not making it up. This was the PP we knew existed... in sci-fi dreams or something. Smart, snappy puck movement and Gnarly finish. Apples to Pete and Brock.
WOOOO Gnarly PP goal! Going for the 1st period hatty!
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Nucks lead 2-0. In the 1st. On the road!
That was a rare near perfect period in the offensive zone by the Canucks. Let's see two more like that!
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I know I know, but one can dream!
2ND
For reasons that only the Canucks of Saturday can make happen, our dreams can come true. On the PP! Again!
Blues are on the PK and enjoying a casual line change after clearing the puck all the way to Lanky. Who passes to Huggie who spots JT and snaps a laser pass to Millsie who breaks in on Mr. B and scores!
Wooo! Miller!
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That's the GWG and end-of-game for Mr. B. He's pulled in favour of a Hoofer. Doesn't help.
It's not all searing Blues and roses, however, as Myers takes a tripping call to the box and the Blues score while Soup plays the innocent witness. Doesn't matter.
What matter is that Hoagie is careless with his stick and cuts a lip. Nothing is called. Until the "Unpaid Officials", the home crowd crowed and crowed for a penalty.
Hoggy takes a 4. Fuuuu... the embellishment certainly helped....
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Again, not a good look for Hoagie. Doesn't matter. As Myers is playing the PK of Atonement. Breaks up the entry, makes a blind backhand pass to clear the puck and Suter clearly jumps on it. Zooms in on the Hoofer and scores a snipe top shelf.
WOOOOO SUTER SHORTY!!!
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Myers with an excellent play to set that up.
Suter breaks his goaless drought that goes back to the invention of hockey in pre-historic Scotland.
Nucks have stretched the lead back to the safest lead in hockey, up 4-1 after 2.
3RD
The Saturday Afternoon/Evening Nucks keep the worst lead in hockey for almost 4 minutes!
Pete had a couple chances to clear the puck out of his zone and doesn't. Blues pass the puck around and Parayko gets to teach EP25 a tough lesson. Don't stand to close too your goalie. Puck bounces off his skate and goes past Lanky. A rookie mistake... that even Huggie has made.
Eesh...ep25 just got harsh walked. I still like him though.
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Again, it doesn't matter, as we saw earlier, Millsie scored the game winner in a previous period. Doesn't matter to Myers, who wants more atoning.
WOOO Myers with the ENG!
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Canucks win another (Saturday) game 5-2! Wooo! Win a 4 pointer at that.
And the trade chatter ends now. Westy has spoken. Using the written word.
If they win, no one gets traded...ever!
Westy
OBSERVATIONS
Good team effort. Start to finish. This team looked last last season's team. Finally.
Huggie dominated the game. As is his want. Another 2 point game. 1st Canucks D to reach 100 multi-point games. Woo!!!
Lanky played another great game. Secured his 18th regular season win. A career record.
The Saturday Night Nucks have the players, the skill, the jam to play like a great hockey team. Maybe even Pete is getting 2/3 of the way to match his wages.
Whoa... Petey has 7 shots tonight. Gotta keep him, he's having his underperfoming season now, but he's still playing great. He'll get his goals. It would be myopic to trade him away. It's like Brock Boeser that year after he got injured... just a bad season but came back huge.
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Myers was great after his 3 game hiatus for smirk-wiping with his stick. Had 1 Goal, 1 Assist, +3, 5 Shots, 1 Takeaway and 2 Blocked Shots in 22:58 TOI.
Gnarly scored 2 goals after a 9 game drought. Yay!
Suter scored for the 1st time in... [looks at calendar, repeatedly] 24 games! Finally.
JT hadn't scored in 10 games and his PP GWG was a beauty. His fight with Schenn, not so much.
Bluesky were ready to plan the parade. Only if it's on a Saturday.
THE PARADE GOES SOUTH ON RENFREW, TAKE A LEFT ON BROADWAY, LET'S GET STUCK IN TRAFFIC AT EVERY LIGHT ON LOUGHEED, WE LOVE THIS MOMENT #CANUCKS
— Bruce Ng (@transcendwebs.bsky.social) January 27, 2025 at 7:17 PM
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Are they back?
Now that was a solid win. One of the best they’ve put together in a looooong time. Not just defence but great offensive instincts shown tonight. Promising game. #Canucks
— fuzzysnack (@fuzzysnack.bsky.social) January 27, 2025 at 7:16 PM
Gnarland getting the garlands in this game.
🚨CONOR GARLAND🚨 is your first ⭐️ of the game tonight. What a game for him. — 2 Goals — 2 Points — TOI: 20:15 — SOG: 6 #Canucks #GoCanucksGo #NHL
— Canucks Watcher (@canuckswatcher.bsky.social) January 27, 2025 at 7:42 PM
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Anything else? Yes!
Just another Saturday afternoon/evening in a different time zone.
Video Replay
It's Prime hockey night - with broadcasters with foreign accents.
GAME STATS
SHOTS
PERIOD | VAN | STL |
1st | 12 | 4 |
2nd | 11 | 15 |
3rd | 7 | 7 |
TOTAL | 30 | 26 |
PLAYERS 'N TACO TALK
Capt'n Huggie taking it to the net, the presser and smiling!
Lanky back in net and getting an assist.
Taco Talks about the good start, Gnarly's consistency and praising Myers.
Great statement game from the (it's still) Saturday Nucks. Not a game they could play on a Monday.
Believe it or not, Nucks play another Saturday game in a couple days in wintery Tennessee. Can they dance this Saturday Night Fever into the cold, snowy South and keep the scorecard hits rolling? We'll find out on the 3rd Saturday game of the week.