THERE'S NO THREE GAME HOME WINSTREAK FOR US

After that gaudy 2 game winning streak, Nucks have settled into their regular one goal a game rhythm.

Not a terrible game from the under-achieving Nucking forwards, they worked hard. Can't score.

When the Nucks forwards can't score, it falls on the D to rank up the goals. And did. That amazing singular goal.

Other than that, it was a great game - other than a horrible loss the Nucks can't afford.

1ST

Nucks come out and don't give up an early goal. Petey got a post early. So that was nice.

After that almost offensive outburst, Petey went back to the less confident version.

However the spicy part of the period was the reffing.

Nucks get lotsa of summer cottage time. Bonus!

Nucks lead, 0-0 after 1. Yeah... sure... tied, but it's as close the Nucks will get to a lead.

2ND

Because the Stars are playing the 2nd of B2B, Nucks are required to be generous hosts, so a couple Petterssons combine give the Stars the early flukey goal.

No worries. It's only one goal. Nucks can get that back.

And do.

Our new power Forbort gets open in the slot and buries it top shelf.

The Canucks have another 0 goal lead. This time after 2 periods!

Or not.

Last 30 seconds of the period, EP40 takes a D-zone draw and loses it. Dallas gets a puck on net that clanks off his blocker to a wide open and uncovered sea of Granlunds, and the ocean of puck flooded the open net.

Stars lead 2-1 after 2. And have already won the game.

3RD

Nucks come back with some pressure in the 3rd... but as ever with the lowest scoring team in the league, Nucks can't bury their chances. Even on, or especially, on their early feeble PP.

Worse.. Since he was backchecked a little too well, Josh couldn't bury his glorious chance. Stars go back 3-on-2 the other way and bury their inglorious one.

Nucks get worse ref-luck as Myers is sent back to his cottage on a very marginal call. Nucks kill it. At the end of the kill, Nucks PKers get feisty in front our former backup - almost got 3 shorties and 2 longies.

Nucks are down 2 goals in the last 5 minutes. That's TWO GOALS DOWN for those counting at home. They could have another 50 minutes of stone cold hands and not get those back.

To compensate, in the final couple minutes, Taco pulls Lanky so another ineffective forward can replace him.

And of course, Nucks give up the EN. To who you ask? Don't ask the $96M question.

Nucks LOSE 4-1!

Imagine... getting 4 goals in a SINGLE game. Inconceivable!

OBSERVATIONS

EP40. Last game we hoped he'd turned the confident corner and was swooping down main street. Instead, resumed his meh play, with a -3, 0 points, 0 shots (on goal) and a post.

Equally ineffective was Brock and DeBrusk. Each with 2 shots and on the ice for 2 goals against.

To be fair, Taco restricted ice time for Petey, DeBrusk and Brock. Says you gotta earn it.

Nucks worked hard, just don't have the horses to win games this time of year. Or at least a stable of effective forwards.

The sky is raining clouds of comments...

I don't recall Casey DeSmith making big saves like that on the regular when he played for Vancouver. Of COURSE he turns into a world beater when he plays against the #Canucks.

— Pucked in the Head (@puckedinthehead.bsky.social) March 9, 2025 at 8:15 PM

#canucks must have the worst record when playing a team that’s on the second game of back to back games. Scheduled wins are myth.

— jbearz.bsky.social (@jbearz.bsky.social) March 9, 2025 at 8:19 PM

DeSmith hasn’t really had to do jack all this game. The only challenging shot he faced went in. #Canucks just haven’t been able to generate any quality chances.

— fuzzysnack (@fuzzysnack.bsky.social) March 9, 2025 at 8:10 PM

Vancouver/Dallas #Canucks Star Derek Forbort. First goal as a Canuck and it had loads of Marcus Naslund mustard on it. Game Note: Perennial Top 16 team against persistent Bottom 16 team. Was the loss fate or a rare scheduled win for the back to back playing Dallas Stars?

— JDavid (@jdavidh.bsky.social) March 9, 2025 at 8:59 PM

Vancouver/Dallas #Canucks Star Derek Forbort. First goal as a Canuck and it had loads of Marcus Naslund mustard on it. Game Note: Perennial Top 16 team against persistent Bottom 16 team. Was the loss fate or a rare scheduled win for the back to back playing Dallas Stars?

— JDavid (@jdavidh.bsky.social) March 9, 2025 at 8:59 PM

Tocchet, re: low TOI for Boeser, DeBrusk, Pettersson in #Canucks 4-1 loss to Stars: "You’ve got to earn your ice time around here. That’s how you win...I don’t care how long you’ve been here, you’ve got to earn your ice time. That’s the way it works. That’s how you win Stanley Cups.”

— Daniel Wagner (@passittobulis.bsky.social) March 9, 2025 at 9:21 PM

Anything else? Yes!

Decline any involvement in B2B games. Especially next week,

Video Replay

Shorty and Dave calling a hard working Nucks team that can't score.

GAME STATS

PLAYER POINTS

SHOTS

PLAYERS 'N TACO TALK

Mopey Petey on the mic. No smiles tonight.

Lanky explains the strategy.

Power Forbort trying to explain the right/wrong things.

Taco talks about the good and the fugly. And the ice time for his best forwards... which weren't at their best tonight.

Is it just me... or is Taco tired of losing games with this ragtag roster?

A must-needed win lost. The seedy part of the wild seeds is looking more seedy and distant. Really need Huggie and Demmers back this week.

Because... Tuesday the (traitor) Habs are in the ROG and Wednesday Nucks are off to Cowtown.

Which goalie plays which game? Lanky on Tuesday to get the 2 points and Arty to give up 4 points on Wednesday? Or... do you play Arty on Tuesday, lose the 2 points and play Lanky on Wed to help secure the 4 points? Nucks put themselves in this position of scrambling, stumbling into the last seed. Last. Last season Nucks were the #1 seed in the division.

What a difference a year makes... this season, this world doesn't make much sense.