NUCKS WERE BEATING THE RAGS - BUT REFS CAME TO PLAY TOO.
A MUST WIN GAME THAT WENT BADLY. VERY BADLY.
This was a winnable game during breakfast. Not so much during lunch.
It was as some noted, a microcosm of the Nucks season. Or... a game where McCauley and spiteful hockey gods pushed Nucks playoff hopes into a deep dark chasm, never to be seen again.
Didn't start badly... but when you lose to the Rags while losing 2 key players, it ended very badly.
But let's start with the good part. That as ever, can't last long.
1ST
Nucks completely dominated the Rags in the period.
Outshot them 11-1. Rags got a single miserable shot on Lanky.
And even better, Nucks get a 1-0 lead. Thanks to Magic-Edges Huggie.
Quinn Hughes putting Matt Rempe in the spin cycle will never get old 😆 🎥: Sportsnet | NHL #Canucks #NYR
— CanucksArmy (@canucksarmy.bsky.social) March 22, 2025 at 10:56 AM
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Josh scores on the rebound - Huggie gets his 400th NHL point. This is a great start!
If not for Sherstopsalot, Nucks coulda been leading by 5. That would have been good.
2ND
Nucks keep dominating into the 2nd. Outshooting NY 13-5, but not outscoring. What?!
It's not fair. Not fair at all.
An innocent Rags shot from the point is tipped by Fox and Lanky doesn't like getting tipped.
1-1 game. Dammit.
And much, much worse, Nucks lose Petey after taking a draw against JT Miller. That's weird. As well, Hoagie had to leave the game and didn't return. That leaves the Nucks with 1/3 of their top line and Suter and Teddy as the top 2 centers after 2.
Hockey gods in full cooperation with BC Faeries and the refs stick the Nucks in a bad departure lounge for the 3rd.
Especially the Mr. Macauley who must have gotten the call from Mr. B during the 1st inter, to even up the penalties, even if it was the Rags playing cheapshot hockey all game.
In front of the Rags net, DeBusk gets mobbed by 3 or 4 angry Rags. Not angry enough to draw a roughing call, but Jake gets a roughing call for ???
Absolute bullshit game management call by the refs there on Debrusk. Just cowardly pandering to a homer crowd booing them for obvious calls against a terrible Rangers team. #canucks
— tonytanti1.bsky.social (@tonytanti1.bsky.social) March 22, 2025 at 11:29 AM
Looks like the ref called a #canucks penalty out of nowhere so he can leave the building later without getting beaten up.
— Chris Choi (@chrisbc.bsky.social) March 22, 2025 at 11:29 AM
That’s the dumbest even up call I’ve ever seen #canucks
— Ian St. (@ian-st.bsky.social) March 22, 2025 at 11:29 AM
lmao that is some absurd game management to give DeBrusk the only penalty there. #Canucks
— Daniel Wagner (@passittobulis.bsky.social) March 22, 2025 at 11:29 AM
However, the Nucks do get a PP to end the period. Never a good thing.
3RD
Nucks start on the PP. Never a good thing. No good thing happens on the PP.
Just afterwards 3 Rags break up ice, JT is checked by Ronnie, but gets the puck in the corner, passes it out from to a Rag we've never heard of and it's 2-1 Rags. Ouch!
We weren't and neither were the Nucks asking to go down a goal, already being down 2 vital players.
Doesn't matter. For now. As Henry Mancini's great grandson's cousin puts on a musical - dances behind the Ragged net and passes out front to Drew who draws his 2nd goal in consecutive games.
Back to evens at 2-2. That's good. Except for what happens next.
On the untying goal, the bad puck luck Nucks get bad puck luck. The other Raggedie Miller puts a shot on net and it deflects off Huggie's skate past Lanky.
Horribly unfortunate bounce for Hughes. #Canucks
— CrankyCanucksFan (@crankycanucksfan.bsky.social) March 22, 2025 at 12:38 PM
Wow! Huggie playing so well this game, gets shafted by the hockey deities. Bastards.
And then for the 2nd Nucking comeback of the game - which shouldn't have been required if the Nucks had even a little luck - our new Brockstar spins out front of Chesterfield and beats him clean.
Boeser is on fire lately. 5 goals in 3 games. #Canucks
— Nick (@skycorps.bsky.social) March 22, 2025 at 12:43 PM
And with thoughts of loooooser points bouncing through our discouraged little minds, the guy we never heard of scoots up ice, past Keif - who falls down and fails to catch up - passes off, gets the puck back and scores.
WHO TF IS "JONNY BRODZINSKI"? #Canucks
— Erin Butler (@eleighbutler.bsky.social) March 22, 2025 at 12:49 PM
Rags 4-3 on a handful of shots. FFS!
This game is officially ridiculous. #canucks
— MousEarz (@mousearz.bsky.social) March 22, 2025 at 12:48 PM
this is the bad place. have I said that before? I think I have. #Canucks
— Ashley (@ash340.bsky.social) March 22, 2025 at 12:48 PM
No matter. With Lanky on the bench, it had to happen. What we had dreaded. JT gets the EN for NY. FFS!
Nucks lose 5-3 in the gardens, despite outshooting the Ragards 39-12. How is that possible?!
We do not know.
OBSERVATIONS
Observations? The Nucks season is over. No 2nd season for us.
The sky is pouring...
I don’t usually get mad about losses, but I’m mad about this one. this is some bullshit combined with rangers getting away with nearly everything #Canucks
— Ashley (@ash340.bsky.social) March 22, 2025 at 12:51 PM
This game feels like the most #canucks game of all time
— L.i.am 🤨 (@ls-19.bsky.social) March 22, 2025 at 12:51 PM
Me: “Doctor, my mental health is in decline, I have constant headaches, and I think I have heart issues.” Doctor: “Ah, you have #Canucks.”
— CrankyCanucksFan (@crankycanucksfan.bsky.social) March 22, 2025 at 12:52 PM
I liked it better when we lost on the spreadsheet but won on the scoresheet. #Canucks
— agent86-fan.bsky.social (@agent86-fan.bsky.social) March 22, 2025 at 12:53 PM
Why are you so cruel hockey gods? #canucks
— VanCity Sports (@vancitysports.bsky.social) March 22, 2025 at 12:53 PM
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Even if Huggie played center, quarterback and team mascot, it wasn't meant to be.
Quinn Hughes gave his all in that game. #Canucks
— Teresa Murray (@teresamurray.bsky.social) March 22, 2025 at 12:57 PM
Well looks like the most frustrating year in #Canucks history is over. Fitting that Petey and Hoggy get injured in a must win game and we lose a game we actually outshot an opposing team. What a nightmare this year has been. Tough decision now to sign Brock. Probably too little too late.
— DJTaxman77 (@hugheshart43.bsky.social) March 22, 2025 at 1:01 PM
After it’s all said and done, the things that played the biggest hand in the #Canucks failures this season is Rutherford/Allvin: - High off season turnover - poor blueline construction - not on top of team issues - trading futures/offence to fix said blueline - no scoring help at the deadline.
— fuzzysnack (@fuzzysnack.bsky.social) March 22, 2025 at 1:02 PM
Centers anyone?
If Elias Pettersson is out on Monday, which is very possible based on Tocchet's post-game comments, the #Canucks top six centers against the Devils will be Pius Suter and Teddy Blueger
— Adam Kierszenblat (@adamkblat.bsky.social) March 22, 2025 at 1:25 PM
Anything else? Yes!
I’ve been fortunate to have watched the primes and/or full careers of anyone else who would be in consideration for this: I firmly believe that Quinn Hughes is the best player in #Canucks history.
— Kolby Solinsky (@kolbysolinsky.bsky.social) March 22, 2025 at 1:28 PM
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Video Rehash
It's Shortie and Dave call vital seedy game.
GAME STATS
SHOTS
| PERIOD | VAN | NYR |
| 1st | 11 | 1 |
| 2nd | 13 | 5 |
| 3rd | 15 | 6 |
| TOTAL | 39 | 12 |
PLAYERS 'N TACO TALK
Capt'n Huggie played his heart out. And isn't happy with the hockey gawds either.
Josh gets a goal and a presser to explain the unexplainable.
Taco says we deserve a lot better. Pretty sure he's talking about us fans.
With this loss, and the other dogs in the seedy dogfight all winning their games today, pretty much seals the T-time for the Nucks. Bummer.
On Monday Nucks are in Jersey. Looking likely that Räty will be subbing in for EP40. Uncertain if Hoagie will be available. Good luck, Nucks!
