*UCKS *UCK UP THE *UCKS

This isn't your road-weary Nucks. This is your home game winning Nucks. What a difference some Tough Taco Talk, some annoying media blasts and an elite player's public accountability can make.

Nucks got some payback from last week's loss in Disneyland. Ducks got a little taste of losing on the 2nd of a B2B. We know what feels like.

Great start to the game, and even better, a winning finish. It won't seem real, but the Nucks didn't give up the lead when leading in the 3rd. Yes, really. Won the game while leading by 2 goals after the 2nd. And leading by 1 goal after the 3rd.

That's pretty good.

1ST

Nucks come out hot and ready shoot every puck. Win every faceoff. Battle every board battle.

Not only do the Nucks do that, they outshoot the Ducks 17-5 in the period. But despite some great shots, Nucks were Gibson'd.

Of course, Nuck luck strikes on a weird play as the puck bounces up in the air off a Duckie and past Lanky.

Nucks are down a goal, 1-0 after 1.

2ND

Nucks get another PP, their 3rd not even a minute in.

And this time, possibly the only time, the Taco-McJiggled-up PP unit scores. With a Huggie-like pass from Ronnie in his own zone to Brock, skating onto the Ducking blueline, he passes over to Jake and Jake bakes a puck past Gibson.

Tie game and the period is just getting started. Just the Nucks goal scoring.

Next up is Teddy, cruises over the Duck line and scores on a partially screened Gibson.

Nucks lead 2-1, but they're not scoring anymore on Gibson, as a few minutes later Drew crashed into him going for the tip. Gibson left the game. Drew got a goalie inter call and the Nucks PK killed it.

The GWG was scored on a fascinating reverse screen chaos in the blue play. Teddy and Sherwood get smacked into the net by some angry Ducks D. Teddy extricates himself, but Sherwood can't. Meanwhile, there's still hockey puck passing stuff going on. Hoagie passes to Soup and he scores!

Flocking Ducks call for a review. And lose it. Call on the ice stands.

Nucks get another, sadly, futile PP. But doesn't matter.

Because... the Nucks have the insurmountable 2 goal lead, 3-1 after 2.

3RD

In the 3rd instead of sitting back with the commanding 2 goal lead, Nucks keep the heat on the Duck l'Orange.

As is inevitable with least safe goal in hockey, the Nucks give up another goal to the Ducks... if only Heatyl had checked his guy.

But, oh well. Nucks still have the 2nd safest lead in hockey and seem determined to keep it.

And do. Despite the Ducks emptying their nest and pressuring 6-on-5, the Nucks keep Lanky's not-quite-shutout puck-tight.

Last 5 seconds Gnarly goes full Gnarl on Zeetoos. Both get a 5 second penalty for fighting.

Nucks win 3-2 in the ROG. WIN! A ROG HOME WIN!

OBSERVATIONS

For the 1st time in a long time, Nucks don't lose a game when leading after 2.

Ronnie was the 1st star, had 2 assists on the night.

Lekkerimaki looked very good on his return to the big club.

Brock looked engaged and picked an assist to pass Bo with 421 points all-time as a Canuck. Important stat or just a signpost? Check back Friday night.

What about EP40? After yesterday's full disclosure media scrum, Petey was playing with some intensity, had 3 shots, 5 hits and was driving play. No points, but still... won 20 of 25 faceoffs. He's tied with that old Sid kid for the most faceoff wins in a single game this season.

The sky is clearing too... pretty much.

An absolutely monstrous night for Elias Pettersson Classic in the faceoff circle. Went 20-for-25, including three wins in the final two minutes while defending the one-goal lead. #Canucks

— Daniel Wagner (@passittobulis.bsky.social) March 5, 2025 at 10:24 PM

Can 3 shots, 5 hits and 20 faceoff wins with 0 points be considered a statement game cause that felt like a yeah I'm thinking I'm back game for EP40 #Canucks

— Jackson604 (@jackson604.bsky.social) March 5, 2025 at 10:26 PM

Gnarland got his name cheered by the crowd at the end. Some heard it as JT Garland, JT Garland... some fan habits take time to adjust.

Garland punching Zegras in the face is a cherry on top of this win. #Canucks

— Phanyxx (@phanyxx.bsky.social) March 5, 2025 at 10:23 PM

#NHL GameScore Impact Card for Vancouver Canucks on 2025-03-05 #Canucks

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— HockeyStatCards (@hockeystatcards.com) March 5, 2025 at 10:31 PM

Anything else? Yes!

Welcome home!

Video Replay

Shorty and Dave having fun. At a Nucks game!

GAME STATS

PLAYER POINTS

SHOTS

PLAYERS 'N TACO TALK

Meet Drew. Our new fast skating, goalie-snuffing forward.

Jake, Mr. Power Play, notches a career high PP goal total.

Sous scoring wins the game and the presser.

Taco talks about the good stuff for a change.

A must-needed win. As all the wins are now. Nucks are tied on points with Cowtown, but still on the outside as the Flaming team has more wins. Hence why the wins are most needed. If the team wants that last wildcard spot and get swept in the 1st round.

Now our focus shifts to the remaining media-tension-filled hours of the TDL on Friday. There's also a Nucks hockey game on Friday, but will this roster look the same, be better or worse and does it matter? Stay tuned.