RECAP: NUCKS WIN!!! Undefeated at Home! (Really) Outskillz Flyers 3-2

After Capt’n Canuck led our fearless home opening into the history books, the books from this century, we or me, might have had some hesitation. Ok, it was more like dread. Hesitant dread.

While the euphoria of scoring a big octagonal bucket of goals against the Kings lasted pretty much through Saturday afternoon, there was a little issue. The prospect that the Nucks goal quota for the month might have been spent.

Fortunately, the Flyers were restricted by league parity rules to a maximum of 2 goals on the night. You might think I’m making this up, but the game’s first star and league parity goals goal enforcer ensured the Philly quota wasn’t exceeded.

Which is good, because after their wild blowout win last week, the Nucks were back inside their sandbag waiting for the 3rd to end.

But, we’re not there yet. Unless you want to skip my wordy boring parts and just read Westy’s simple tribute:

Tanner Pearson

Hockey God

Canucks Win!

1st Period

The Nucks strike first in the first. Just like last Wednesday.

And even better, it’s a Pete ‘n Brock first period creative chaos festival. Thanks to great board work from Miller.

So... that’s all the scoring. I know, we want 10. But to get 10, Nucks would need more than their 6 shots in the period. The Flyers had 7, but Marky works for the league’s parity-party.

It’s a huge one goal lead going into the 2nd.

2nd Period

And then it isn’t.

Maybe working as an NHL Quota Official doesn’t pay as well as Marky expected. Or maybe it does and he was following orders. Or HNIC wanted to wet themselves while screaming about a rookie’s 1st NHL goal.

Whatever. It’s not like Quinn’s first NHL goal. That was important. This one is just annoying. For us.

Game is tied. Do we want to see tie games in the 2nd, at home? No. We do not.

And neither does sniper Tanev. Or big tipper, Tanner Pearson.

Boom! We’re winning. At home.

No worries about taking a measly one goal lead into the third. Nope. Not at all. The gamethread is slightly concerned that the Nucks were outshot 10-7. But that’s why they carry extra worry bottles. Like worry beads, but bigger with more kick.

3rd Period

For last year’s Canucks holding onto a slim one lead in the third was a very tentative thing. What about this season’s Nucks?

It’s not so much as tentative as uh... disturbing. Instead of carrying the play and pushing the visitors into the uncomfortable zone of the ice, the Nucks played the patient game. The game thread has no patience for that.

We’re 5 minutes in and the Flyers have 7 shots on goal. The Nucks have none. Someone claimed it was a spontaneous tribute - a ‘Preserve the One Goal Lead’ period to Alain. Might have been me.

Whatever. It was not fun to watch. Especially as we watched this same team (at least they had the same jersey numbers) score 4 goals in one period last week. Granted Hart is a much better goalie than Quick, so there’s that. But have to shoot to score. Goals don’t score themselves. Unless it’s your 1st game with $6M salary and you watch a goal.... no. We’re not having that flashback right now.

No matter. What matters is the lead is maintained with a minimum of shots to Hart. That’s good. What’s not so good, is that Big Bad Benn takes a penalty. He and Green wanted to give it back.

Not the league. Seems that goal parity thing might be a little too equal. And not to put too cruel a twist on it, the Nucks PK has been perfect all season. So far.

That stat is over. The Flyers score on their PP. And the Nucks slip out of the sandbag a little to consider the possibility of still winning in regulation.

Not to be. Blame me. I do. Predicted in the SPW that the Nucks would win in OT.

Nucks were outshot 14-6 in the 3rd. Not quite 3 to 1, but it’s a ratio we’re far too familiar with.

And the 31-19 shot count after 3 isn’t much better. At least Marky still takes his league goal quota enforcer role seriously.

OT

This is where we witness some sweet 3 on 3 goodness. Pete, Brock and Quinn. They can do no wrong. Control play until Bo can get a breakaway, draw a penalty and the 4 on 2.5 PP can make my dream prediction come true.

But the Nucks PP doesn’t bring the power goal. Period ends. Pete’s pissed. So am I.

No matter. Pete is more pissed than me and will make even a very good goalie look average.

SO

Dekey Pete opens the bar down. Pearson finishes the bottleshock. And Marky doublestacks the quota lockdown.

Because it was a Saturday HNIC game, we get the eastern boys to call the game. Even in the video recap. Sorry.

Stats (such as they are)

	SOG	FO%	PP	PIM	HITS	BLKS	GVA
Flyers PHI	32	44%	1/3	4	22	17	4
Canucks VAN	24	56%	0/2	6	22	19	13

The OT period made the Nucks shot count look better than it really was. To be fair the Flyers are a better team than the Kings, but once we’re spoiled with an 8 goal win... well...

Marky was the 1st star by far. Hope he keeps his league low GA vow for weeks. Or months. That would be good too.

Let’s hear from our Flow.

Coach ‘Very Good’ Green was playing the checkerboards.

Meanwhile.... there was a legend in the ROG. Asking questions and taking shots. Something the current Nucks can do more often. And early. And late. And in between.

Shot blocking chicklet chat with Juice and Tan-man, ribs Capt’n Bo and torments Pete.

All’s well that ends well. At least we won’t see the Flyers again this season, so we’ve won that vital season series against a far eastern team.

A mid eastern team is winging its way to the ROG on Tuesday. Until then we can take comfort in being undefeated at home this season. So far.