PLAYOFF ROUND 1 GAME 1 RECAP: WOOOOO!!! NUCKS Beat the Blue 5-2

That’s a very BIG WIN!

Not many of us were ready for the first Nucks playoff game win. Ok... all of us were ready. Ready and waiting. For years. And years.

And now it’s HERE! WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!

And not just any win. A win against the big bad Blues. Defending Fake Cup champs.

After figuring out the Wild things, we expected a tougher battle against the former champs. I say former, because even if the Blues get past the Nucks (they won’t) there’s no way in bubble hockey hell they get to repeat.

The only hesitation pre-game, I mean other than the usual NM hyperventilating, was the rumour that Miller was scratched. Didn’t take the pre-game skate.

But thankfully, the NM paper bag re-supply chain wasn’t stressed, because Miller took the post-pre-game skate, otherwise called a playoff game.

And what a game! Let’s get going!

1st Period

Start heavy. That was the Blues theme. And for a few minutes, the non-existent fans in the rink couldn’t hear it.

But if they were there, they would hear the ref’s whistle being sounded. And astounded it wasn’t a call on the Nucks.

It’s a Nucks PP. That lasted but a few seconds. That’s all Capt’n Bo needed to beat Beenington.

Boom! Nucks have the lead and win the period, the game, the series and the Cup. Who knew? All it takes is the first goal of the game.

While we’re re-writing championship winning strategies, the cruel and thoughtless NHL let the period, the game continue. Why?

I don’t know. If I understood how the league actually operates, I’d be lighting stogies with fifties in the Hamptons. Or is it hundreds? So much I don’t know.

What we do know, is the refs aren’t going to call everything. Or most things.

A lot of stick work not being called - Westy

- Exactly

- What I was thinking.. especially when it’s in the junk. - Chicky

The other thing we know... the refs will play makeup-style reffing wherever Roos gets his stick in the non-junk areas. Gets called for slashing.

Stupid penalties

and Perron - Westy

The Nucks PK gets called for not having enough PK-ing. To be fair, the Nucks PK lasted almost 30 seconds longer than the Blue PK, so that means we’re winning.

Yes, the Nucks are winning a tie game. No one knows that. Just yet.

Except the pre-cogs at NM’s secret decoder ring facility. Which I can’t talk about, because... the secrecy thing.

So the period goes on, with the Nucks getting another PP late in the period, but the Blues clog the blueline with 6 or 7 players. Also... the Blues get a line named after them, so that sort of favouritism is what we’re up against in this series.

Still the game thread isn’t worried.

Man...

hughes on the line on the power play is a joy to watch. After years of watching edler break sticks and bobble pucks, it’s nice to have a guy qb’ing it without brain farts. - Twitchy

Period ends with a 1-1 tie. Which is pretty good start for the Nucks. Actually a great start.

1-1 after 1st period

not a bad start. The Blues were starting to get going at the end though - Westy

Uh... not really going... except to the exit. But we’re not there yet.

Penalties? 3. Infractions? Probably 30. But, who’s counting...

Shots were in favour of the home team, 12-9, but the goalie was in favour of the visitors.

2nd Period

We can expect more big boy hockey. And boy... did we see it. Big boy hockey for those of you who thought it was a SoCal supper club on ice, is a style of hockey that uses big boys on skates who play like goons.

However, as every NHL ref in the bubble knows, there’s no bigger big boy than Myers. He’s so big that he can get called for being so tall. And does.

Since it was a long reach of a penalty, the Nucks PK stood taller than ever before and killed the penalty.

A few minutes later, Myers draws a call - tripping from Schenn.

The game thread is seeing the bigger, taller picture.

Man good thing they took a penalty

they were all over us there. Now if we score on this PP Meyers gets redemption. - Twitchy

And... on the PP, Pete delivers the redemption!

WOOOOOOO!!!! PETEY!

What a shot… take a broken play and make it count. - Twitchy

Nucks regain the lead against the former champs. And keep the lead.

For just about a minute. A bobble at the bluesline by our series winning sniper and the Schwartz bay ferry goes open seas and docks a puck behind Marky. Dammit!

Now the Nucks lead has been diminished slightly. By a whole number. Which is one of the worst types of diminishment.

Doesn’t matter. While the Nucks have allowed their first 5-on-5 goal in August, it is certainly the last one in this game.

Refs are worn out. Called 5 penalties in a single playoff game period!

Not calling the extra-curriculars, because skool’s out for the summer.

Some in the game thread a little wary of a tie going into the 3rd...

Well it’s 2-2

but man we’re lucky that’s the score… Felt like we got outplayed that period. Edler in particular was ass for a lot of it… passing to the other team, not clearing pucks well. - Twitchy

Others, are more optimistic, in the cynical relatives sense.

Nah... Disagree

Blues are lucky the game is tied. Nucks will figure out this douche team in short order. - sammi.cynic

Nucks were (modestly) outshot 10-8.

And believe it or not - some still don’t believe it - the Nucks are going to get the lead, keep it and extend it.

But we’re not there yet.

3rd Period

Ok... we’re nearly there.

Tick Tock.

Ok... we’re there.

It’s a game winning goal! From Troy from Richmond! Who had a tough summer losing his Dad on Father’s Day.

Beauty goal! On an ugly save. Our favs.

WOOOOO STETCH!!!

Who doesn’t love it when an underdog scores? - Twitchy

What a great goal. Game winning goals for the Nucks are like that.

We can expect the Blues to pushback and tie it again.

But can we expect Capt’n Bo to push the game out of reach?

Yes, yes we can.

Bo was a beast all night. But on this goal he’s a beast on skates. With a stick. A stick with a puck on it. A puck that’s going blocker side. Fast.

The Nucks have won the game. The Blues have had trouble in the 3rd since Bubble Hockey was invented.

Still... they have to pull Beenington in the final 3 minutes and put some pressure on Marky and the game thread. Bastards.

But Marky is standing tall. And wide.

And then just when we thought the pressure was too much... Blues get called for interference.

Pietrangelo:

WTF REF IM NOT ON THE CANUCKS YOU CANT CALL A PENALTY ON ME! - Twitchy

Petulantangelo is very upset. Tough petulance.

On the resulting Nucks PP, which will extend past the due date of the period, they just have to play keep away and not let the puck out of zone. How hard is that?

Forget those hundreds of hard times we suffered through. This PP has a mission. Preserve the lead.

But, what happens when you get a chance to score. It’s Miller time!

Nucks WIN!!! 5-2 against the Blues!

Nucks PP was 3 for 6. Marky was Marquis material. Again.

Refs back on the playoff penalty parade. 3 is a nice round parade number.

We knew the Nucks didn’t take the Blues lightly. We don’t care what the Blues took, other than they took the defalting game 1 loss.

Here’s the highlights, HNIC style, so kinda meh lights, but we’re lucky the CoTU even covers these weird west games.

GAME STATS (Sweet, big game stats)

PLAYER STATS (Go Bo! Stetch! Marky!)

Is this the sweetest win yet? Yes, it is.

It wouldn’t be wrong to expect the Nucks to be a little nervy in game 1 against the former champs. But they weren’t.

Nucks were ready. Ready like a snarly underdog nipping at the blocker of a former #1 goalie.

Let’s hear from this great group of kids, getting their mojo going at just the right time.

In case you missed the end of the game thread, here’s the keen insights we shared.

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!

Sure it’s just one game. Just one win. But, just 3 15 to go.

Want to believe in a deep run? I do. Let’s savour this hump day victory like it’ll last until at least Friday. Get your socks ready for more.