NUCKS SCORE 3 GOALS! IN A SINGLE GAME!

We weren't expecting a goal scoring outburst from Nucks against LA. And we didn't get an outburst. Or did we?

When was the last time the Nucks scored 3 goals and win?

I don't remember either.

That the shooting stars of the Nucks would be Gnarland and Hoagie wasn't expected either.

Or the Nucks would win in OT after killing off a 4-on-3 LA PP in OT.

Turns out it was a lively game with a very lively ending. In LA!

1ST

Some 7 minutes into the 1st someone, possibly me, was whining the Nucks hadn't had a shot on goal. Didn't matter.

Nucks were conserving their shots for a special occasion.

Fortunately, on just the 4th Nucking shot of the period, it was a special occasion. Nucks score! Forbort hit Hoagie in stride, he and Sherry go skating in the middle and Hoagie pulls a power forward move to put the puck up high where the goalie isn't.

Hoagie (and Sherwood) did all the things Taco was asking for. Driving to the middle and putting a laser puck up top.

Nucks are leading, 1-0 after 1. We won a period! Without taking a SINGLE penalty!

2ND

With their pristine Lady Bing Cherry play of the 1st, Nucks had to atone for their penalty-free period. And did. Early. But not often.

Nucks kill off both of their penalties. LA PP is ranked 26th in the league, fortunately.

The Nucks, however, do score on one of their power plays. But first - EP11.6 watchers were treated to something we rarely see.

We were pretty excited to see that shot on goal. His only one of the game, so we had to savour it. And talk about it later.

Anyhow onto the Nucks PP where they not only put a shot on net, but put the puck into the net. And not just the fancy shot 1st unit either. It was the 2nd unit, with quick smart plays from Josh and Fillip to setup no-points-in-6, Gnarland!

Incredible as it sounds, 2nd period ends with the Nucks leading 2-0. In LA.

3RD

It was pretty incredible to watch the Nucks take a 2 goal lead into the 3rd and learn another valuable lesson.

Getting a lead in the NHL is different than keeping a lead.

Since it has worked so well all season, the Nucks rely on their special turtle operation to preserve the lead. Sit back in their own zone and tire out the opponent by letting them take lots of shots on Lanky.

And the strategy almost worked. Until the middle of the period. Pete's line gets caught deep in the LA zone - unfamiliar territory this period. And worse Hoagie has got the middle, but Kempe has speed coming through the middle, coming through a couple of Nucks defenders and putting a puck past Lanky.

It's the safest one goal lead in hockey for the Nucks, up 2-1 and only 11 long, hard minutes to go.

But the minutes get harder and LA keep pressing. Seems like they seriously mean to tie the game. It's not fair! We got the lead fair and square.

And LA takes it away with an unfair goal. Flugelhorn high sticks a puck past Lanky while interfering with him. Or so Taco thought and called for a review.

Instead of callback from the review, Nucks got another penalty. Which turned out to be a good thing. No, really. Nucks PK killed it off and set themselves up for something special, something especially scary...

OT

The Nucks record in OT this season isn't great. I'd look up the exact number, but it's quite depressing. And why the Nucks lead the league in OTL otherwise known as loser points.

It's 3-on-3 to start and that's always a Nucking problem. New contract guy solves the problem. O'Connor takes a bad penalty (call). Drew checked his guy, got the puck... and his guy's skates... so..

It's common league knowledge that killing a 4-on-3 PP in OT is very hard. What is or isn't common knowledge is how bad the LA PP is... and good the Nucks PK is. Especially when Forbort kabooms Kopi.

Derek Forbort with an absolute blast of a hit on Anze Kopitar into the boards! Damn!!! #Canucks  #GoCanucksGo #GoKingsGo #NHL

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— Canucks Watcher (@canuckswatcher.bsky.social) February 26, 2025 at 9:50 PM

Nucks kill it off the 4-on-3. Now it's 4-on-4 OT.

It's weird it doesn't revert to 3-on-3, but we live in inflationary times. Thankfully, Huggie gets onto the ice. Fillip makes a great play at the LA blueline, Huggie goes deep and passes back to, uh-huh, Gnarland, who rips a wicked shot over Riddick's shoulder. Boom!

Recording point number 393, #Canucks Quinn Hughes ties Ryan Kesler and Brendan Morrison for the 16th most points in franchise history. Hughes hit the mark in game 413 which is over 100 fewer games than both Morrison (543) and Kesler (655) needed.

— Adam Kierszenblat (@adamkblat.bsky.social) February 26, 2025 at 10:00 PM

This is the win we needed. We missed Quinn. He's not yet back to Norris level, but got more Quinning as the game wore on.

Scary to see Myers take a shot high and go down hard. Had to go to the room - early reports say the puck struck a nerve in his neck (no giraffe jokes, please) and should be back tomorrow.

OBSERVATIONS

Great to see Hoagie score - playing just how Taco told them too. Tough to hear Taco talking about (Hoagie) giving up the middle on the 1st LA goal.

Gnarland was the game's 1st star and broke out of his point droop with a couple sharpshooter shots. His last 30 games where he only gathered 9 points will soon be forgotten. Unless... [insert droopy meme here].

Huggie back on patrol at the opposing blueline was more than welcome. We need Huggie if the Nucks are to cling/grasp/grip that last wildcard spot. Which they hold again. For now.

The sky is still blue...and the clouds are clearing?

Relieved that we got the two points, but the process has so far to go. Mostly, I noticed the dreadful SOG, and the #Canucks shrinking into a defensive shell when bullied… LOTS to work on.

— CrankyCanucksFan (@crankycanucksfan.bsky.social) February 26, 2025 at 9:57 PM

That was both infuriating and relieving at the same time. Watching the #Canucks is something.

— Andy W (@wattawildworld.bsky.social) February 26, 2025 at 9:53 PM

#NHL GameScore Impact Card for Vancouver Canucks on 2025-02-26 #Canucks

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— HockeyStatCards (@hockeystatcards.com) February 26, 2025 at 9:51 PM

The EP11.6 watch continues...

Thought the $11.6M man really dragged his team into the fight tonight with a 0g, 0a, -1 performance👍 #Canucks

— BoestMode (@boestmode.bsky.social) February 26, 2025 at 9:58 PM

Anything else? Yes!

Winning the 1st of a B2B is the 1st step to winning the 2nd one, right?

Video Replay

Shorty and Dave making a fuss about Quinning again.

GAME STATS

PLAYER POINTS

SHOTS

PLAYERS 'N TACO TALK

Gnarland is back on the board! And the presser.

Capt'n on the ice and the mic.

Taco Talking about the driving force of Quinn. And keeping/losing the middle.

Finally Nucks get a road win. Wooo!

Cellies are short and sweet. Back to the grind tomorrow in Disneyland. Will all our dreams come true?