NORMAL LOW SCORING NUCKS SERVICE RESTORED
2 goal lead in the 1st, lockdown D for 40 and phenomenal goaltending can win a game. Even on the 2nd of a B2B.
Nucks got the goals in the 1st, but not the tending, nor the defensive coverage in the 2nd. In the 3rd, too tired to score, to defend to even pickup a loser point.
We can't overlook the Nucks pitiful record on the 2nd of a B2B. At least the pitifulness is consistent.
Great start to the game, one (of many) terrible finishes. One of the worst finishes in recent memory against one of the worst teams in the division.
But for now, let's focus on the great start. For a bit.
1ST
Just a minute in and Myers - who at the end of last game was hit in the neck with a puck and was listed as a maybe to start - starts with a couple minutes in the summer cottage for over glassing his clear.
Just as he exits his cottage Gnarland springs him for a walk-in breakaway - walks in on Dostoevsky and hammers a slapper into the net.
WOOOO MYSIE SCORES OUTTA THE BOX!
Twitch
And Big Bobby Hughes ain't finished. Later in the period he skates around the opposing net and feeds the puck to Suter for the big and last goal for the Nucks.
WOOOO SUTER!!! From Mysie, yet!
Twitch
Meanwhile, Arty was playing his Vezina section of the game.
STEALOVS! Flashing the leather
Twitch
Nucks are leading, 2-0 after 1. Nucks Win! A period!
2ND
With their safe and inviolate 2 goal lead safely ensconced in a previous period, Nucks only have to play the Taco Tough low event hockey plan.
Instead, the plan is tossed into the bin and freelancing is back on the menu boys.
Nucks get hemmed in their end, surprisingly, Huggie blows his coverage and Arty is too far into his net and his SO bid is over.
Booooo... saw it coming though
Twitch
Nucks still have a one goal lead and not feeling shaky at all.
In fact, Quinn was feeling it. Swoops in from the blueline and puts a puck on net(ish). Deflects wide, speedy little duckies get the puckie and scoot up ice leaving 3 Nucking forwards looking slow. A speedy duckie hit swoops in on Arty and scores high glove side.
Oh come on silovs, you gotta stop that...
Twitch
2-2 tie and still anyone's game. Even if we know it's not.
And one of us was at the rink in the middle of the unhappiest game on earth. After Sievlos allows the 3rd Anaheim goal, Atty filled us in on the harm the harmless can inflict.
Feel bad for Shilovs. He can't stop a beachball.
Atty
I got here when we were already up 2:0 and the Ducks look harmless. They still lopk harmless, but we can't bury the 5 grade A chances in the 2nd, and they score on every shot.
Honestly, I can't even be mad at the team, we are OK but no goalie.
Incredibly normal as it sounds, 2nd period ends with the Nucks behind 3-2. In freaking Disneyland!
3RD
In the 3rd seems like the Nucks realize they're in a bit of tight spot. What would help?
Some 4-on-4 action. Yes! That worked last night.
Instead, it's another Ducking goal - high glove side on Arty.
It's tough for the coaching, regarding Shilovs. If they pull him, total loss of confidence and he is done. If they keep him in, we lose.
Atty
I guess we need a goalie more than we need 2 points, so he will stay in.
4-2 Ducks.
Now down 2 goals with 2 mins to go, Taco finally pulls Arty and well... it's another EN. That at least doesn't count against Arty's .833 SV%.
But the Nucks still lose 5-2 in a game they were leading 2-0. A game where they could have bought some breathing space in the tussle with Cowtown for the final wildcard spot.
Now there's no room for anymore bad games. In fact, Nucks have allowed the Ducks back into the last seed hunt.
Has JT been hanging around the locker room? Such low give-a-shit level by the canucks.
Twitch
Seems not even JT's absence can help the Nucks anymore. They're fragile and soft when things go wrong when leading. And the comeback kids narrative is so last season.
This season has been such a drop from last that our even our over-stretched faint Nucking hope is looking bleak and brittle.
OBSERVATIONS
17 times Nucks have lost a game when leading this season.
4 straight rush goals against this game.
Huggie had the most shot attempts, with eleventeen, but only 4 on goal. Finished the game with -3, the worst of the D corp. Maybe he was trying too hard, since only him, Myers and Suter seemed to be in to win.
Garland had no shots on goal. Josh had no shots on goal. And worse, EPete 92M had none as well.
So embarrassing. 40 is so completely invisible and not feared at all. There is no fear that he’ll score. He’s literally without gumption.
Chicky
The sky is still blue...and the clouds are rolling right back in...
#Canucks may not be the worst team in the #NHL, but they have to be easily the most frustrating team in the league, and it’s not even close. It’s a complete “Jekyll and Hyde” team, one period okay, then two periods utter crap, game after game. The only difference is which period they’re good in.
— lesnielbc.bsky.social (@lesnielbc.bsky.social) February 27, 2025 at 9:48 PM
Via: @gradysas.bsky.social - EP40 had Only 2 shots on goal in 4 games since returning from the #4Nations. Zero shots tonight - 11 straight games including the #4Nations where he’s had 1 shot on goal or less.7 total over that span He’s afraid to shoot right now #Canucks Where do we go from here?
— Canucks Watcher (@canuckswatcher.bsky.social) February 27, 2025 at 9:58 PM
[image or embed]
Not everyone is blaming our star center... there's some shade for Taco too.
Tocchet just biding time until next year. How’s the media watch these games and puts nothing on him? Everyone looks confused, there’s no space to make passes. Gross hockey. Having to skate 200 ft for zone entries isn’t efficient hockey. Why is no one ever open anywhere? Piss poor spacing. #Canucks
— juicemonkey89.bsky.social (@juicemonkey89.bsky.social) February 27, 2025 at 11:09 PM
Seriously this team needs to Seriously consider getting rid of tocchet dude just shreds skilled offensive players into low impact grinders. He turtles in 2-0 leads in the 2nd period and overplayed demko to shit. Breaking petey, our best player, is more than enough justification. #Canucks
— thegreatdandino (@thegreatdandino.bsky.social) February 27, 2025 at 9:48 PM
However, where will the game-breaking goals come from, if not from our elite-salaried player?
Imagine still supporting this, or worse, supporting the team catering to this: #Canucks
— BoestMode (@boestmode.bsky.social) February 27, 2025 at 9:55 PM
[image or embed]
There's only one elite player on the Nucks. It's Quinn.
Anything else? Yes!
Some season sometime, the Nucks will win more 2nd games of a B2B. This isn't that season.
Video Replay
Shorty and Dave having a miserable time at the happiest place on earth. We know what that's like.
GAME STATS
SHOTS
| PERIOD | VAN | ANA |
| 1st | 8 | 6 |
| 2nd | 11 | 11 |
| 3rd | 5 | 8 |
| TOTAL | 24 | 25 |
PLAYERS 'N TACO TALK
Myers get a goal and a tough presser.
Capt'n Huggie sounding the dispirited and tired. Tired from the game or playing on this shitshow?
Taco Talking the lack of grit and inability to play the game plan. His most dispirited presser yet in this dispiriting season.
Worst loss of this road trip? Probably. B2B games aren't for us.
One last stop on this road trip of disappointment. Nucks roll into Seatown next month, or Saturday on a downer to pick up the spirits of the 2nd worst team in the division. Keep your drinking/crying cup nearby.
POLL TIME:
This is starting to feel like the end of the Benning/Green era. The core has failed this season. What's left of it. Is it time to do the thing Trev wanted a decade ago? Let's find out.
