NUCKS HELPED COWTOWN. FOR 2 PERIODS. THAT WAS ENOUGH.

Nucks playing spoiler in this game. No matter which way it went.

Nucks were up 2 goals after 2 and then Minni upped their ref payoffs or game or whatever. We don't care.

What we do care about is the Nucks hanging onto, no not a playoff spot, Nucks almost hanging on to the league record for the most loser points. Could go down to the wire. NHL is a tough league.

1ST

We knew this was going to be a tough game. Not so much for the Nucks who had the season ended already by the Wild. However, the Nucks could almost end the Wild season with a win.

So... Nucks score first! M-Petey's 1st goal as a Canuck. Linus gets the puck from Teddy at the Wild blue and hangs onto it until M-Petey skates into the zone and blasts a shot past Gusty.

1-0 Nucks after 1. And the party has started in Cowtown.

A worrying sign though, Wild outshot the Nucks 12-6.

2ND

Nucks get the only goal of the 2nd. On the PP. No, really.

Despite getting thwarted on entry, time after time, Nucks finally get into the zone. Huggie sets up Hoagie for the Milleresque going downhill snapshot which is tipped by DeBrusk. 2-0 Nucks!

Hogey!!!
-- Zan

DeBruskie!
-- jimmi

Nucks lead 2-0 after 2. Cowtown fans are pouring doubles and getting happy.

3RD

Then the 3rd started and the hurling could be hear across the Rockies.

Wild get on the board early while the Nucks were rehearsing next season's D-zone fire drills.

Nucks still lead 2-1, but you know what they say about leads and safety.

Then game turns fugly. Trenin puts a late (uncalled) hit on Huggie. Forbort sticks up for the Capt'n - has a short fight with Trenin. Both fall to the ice, linemen try to break it up and Douchenin sucker punches Forbort while he's helpless. There's blood and Forbort isn't jumping right up.

It's pretty obvious what happened and how the penalties should be levied. It's a major and the beer league officials have a confab about how they could keep Nucks from going on a 5 minute PP. They give Teddy a 2 minute penalty for interference - he used his stick to try and stop the dirty cheapshot.

Trenin should get a bit more then a game misconduct, you can’t punch somebody when they are already down, throw the book, he should have suspension for a few games at least #canucks

— Suzy Easton (@suzyeaston.bsky.social) April 12, 2025 at 9:26 PM

So we're back to 5-on-5 hockey, while the Wild are free to hook, hold and trip with impunity, because the Wild must win... for NHL reasons... less Canadian teams in the playoffs means less games to job so Gary can keep his Canadian team-free Cup run going.

Referees are practicing for the playoffs with everything they're letting go. #Canucks

— Daniel Wagner (@passittobulis.bsky.social) April 12, 2025 at 9:41 PM

As ever, the Nucks are terrible keeping a lead while the other team spends 90% of their time peppering Lanky.

Of course some scrambly play trying to clear, ends up with a scrambly play in front of Lanky and the game is tied.

ANOTHER failed breakout. It was going to burn them eventually. #Canucks

— Ian St. (@ian-st.bsky.social) April 12, 2025 at 9:31 PM

Nucks were outshot by Minni 13-4 in the 3rd. Sound familiar?

We're gong to OT kids. And the barf buckets are replacing gallon party hats in Cowtown.

OT

Would you be surprised to know the Nucks picked up the 14th point in this OT period? No, and they did. I know they won in OT in Texas, but that was 4-on-4 OT. Totally different game.

OMG I totally biffed on there being a game tonight... fuuuuuuuuuck the flames. there was no way for us to lose tonight; we either fucked minny or we fucked calgary. Both great outcomes. Guess I should go check the score...

Annnd I turn it on just in time to see minny score in OT... lol

-- Twitch

OBSERVATIONS

We had some fans in Cowtown cheering the Nucks in the 1st 40 minutes and cursing them in the last 23. It was ever thus.

It was a mean nothing game. But that cheapshot on Forbort will be remembered with meaning next season. Would have been nice to see Brock on the scoresheet. Or even get a shot through. He looked disengaged.

Nucks were outshot 33-14 over 3.75 periods. That's not great.

#Canucks’ SOG deficit is VERY emblematic of their season.

— CrankyCanucksFan (@crankycanucksfan.bsky.social) April 12, 2025 at 9:37 PM

#Canucks now have 14 overtime/shootout losses, tied for most in the NHL.

— Noah Strang (@noahstrang.bsky.social) April 12, 2025 at 9:49 PM

A microcosm of the #Canucks season in one game. Can't hold a lead, lose at home.

— Tony Smolock (@smoboy.bsky.social) April 12, 2025 at 9:51 PM

#Canucks year end awards: Grow up: JT and Petey We're lucky to have you: Quinn Hughes! Can everyone play like you? Garly, Sherwood, Lankinen Please leave: DeBrusk and Hronek Thanks and good luck: Boeser

— Jon Coutts (@joncoutts.bsky.social) April 12, 2025 at 9:57 PM

Disagree about Ronnie. He's been a horse. And DeBrusk has tied his career high goal total. And he's delivered on his reputation as streaky.

Anything else? Yes!

That end-of-year presser is gonna be so great!

Video Rehash

It's Shortie and Dave calling this ROG game on HNIC.

GAME STATS

PLAYER POINTS

SHOTS

PLAYERS 'N TACO TALK

DeBrusk, gets a presser, obviously.

Huggie explains how he doesn't know how many minutes he plays.

M-Petey gets a goal and talks about the dirtiest thing he's seen in hockey.

Taco talks about common themes... like losing leads... and [redacted] [redacted] about the cheapshot on Forbort. And playing under pressure. And more 3-on-3 practice. Next year.

That kinda sucked after the two game road win streak. Woulda been fun to topple Minni. Doesn't matter. The important thing is the Nucks picked up another loser point. Get enough of those over the season and you get a special thank you card from Gary.

Final two home games on Monday and Wednesday. You know what that means? Another two game win streak? That or something else we're more familiar with.