Mean Nothing Game Takes On A New Nothing Meaning.

Kent warned us about reading. About reading stuff into the 1st pre-season game of this [TBD] season. So stop reading now and go outside and shout at the clouds. If no clouds are available in your area, go outside and shout at the moon. If the moon is not available in your area, go outside and wait for the all clear sign - around Apr 2026 or so.

None of the Nucks stars played in this game, pretty much. This was a pre-nucktial affair. Yes, the Nucks got beat, although not as much of a beating as it looked to be mid 2nd. So, that's not so bad.

Game/Player Highlights

Tolo started in the net for the 1st half of the game. Looked sharp and very tall. Kept the 1-1 tie until... a Young goalie came in cold mid-2nd and got lit up. Gave up 3 goals in 4 minutes. Much to the delight of the Seatown fans in the Climate Emergency arena.

Young will be fine in Abby. Tolo will be extra fine in Abby.

Mancini was the best Nucking D - scored a power play goal. The only Nucks PP tally in 12 baziilion chances, as the Pre-Nucktials looked very much like the Pro-Nuckies PP of last season. Especially similar when playing catchup 6-on-4 in the last minute of the game. Excluding that all-time best last minute of a game against Dallas.

We can expect Mancini, if he doesn't make the False Hope Creek team, will be a star in Abby. Unless the Nucks management trade him to some eastern team for a coveted center that doesn't pan out, while Victor goes on to win a Cup with some eastern bastards team.

Stillman scored on a penalty shot late 2nd, which if we were allowed to read into stuff, might have got some attention from the coaching staff.

LaBate was LeBeast on skates. Kracking Kraks all over. Expect he'll be a big hit in Abby this season. He assisted on Aman's pre-pre-pre tying goal.

Hoggie looked like his usual motor-skater. Drew a couple penalties and of course, scored no goals.

Cootes looked like a good young NHL center. As we saw in camp - looked great with Sherwood. Cootes was better than Chytil in the dot. Chytil needs some special Manny time.

Do the Nucks dare sign the 18 year old 1st rounder to an entry-level NHL deal now? Sorry... answering would require reading something into this game, which we've been forbidden to do.

GAME HIGHLIGHTS

Local colour commentary from Sportynet 650 crew.

GAME STATS

COACHES CORNERED

Foote needs to up his presser presentation... way too calm and analytical... maybe roughing up a couple reporters early in the season will make us forget those forgettable Taco pressers. Mancini already has the NHL player presser chat mastered.

At least this loss is over with. It's not like the Nucks are the defending Cup champs that lost TWO games. Lost TWO games in a single day! But we can't read about it.

With nothing to read about, we can move on to the next preseason game on Wednesday. It's in the ROG. Remember that barn? Me neither. Against a division rival from the Cow Barn.

Thanks for not reading anything and get ready to continue not reading anything into or out of these meaningless games. Games filled with profound meaning to us, as we are hoping beyond hope to find some hope we can believe in this season.