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The Vegas coach was so confident about wrapping up the series tonight that he’d already booked tickets to the West Edmonton Mall.
Turns out, they don’t sell tickets to the WEM. And as it turns out, the underdogs had a secret under-played goalie waiting to stop all but 1 of 43 Vegan shots.
Marky is hurt. Demko is hungry. Is Loss Rages ready to serve?
"You never know what’s going to happen, so I’ve just been working in practice and been staying mentally sharp in case I was called upon. This is what I’ve wanted to be a part of since I was a kid. This is super special and I want to help the team any way I can." - Demko pic.twitter.com/m7Q90jg5iu
— Vancouver #Canucks (@Canucks) September 2, 2020
1st Period
The Nucks start well. At least one of them.
Demko stopped his first shot — Westy
Save No. 1️⃣ in the books for Demko. pic.twitter.com/CY46K0WXnE
— Vancouver #Canucks (@Canucks) September 2, 2020
And then Demmers stopped the next 10 shots.
Maybe not planned, but the Nucks seemed content to the let the Nightly shooters wear themselves out.
At 10:24 of the period, Nucks took their foot off the sandbag and took their 1st shot.
And a couple more.
Miller ringing iron
that was a wicked shot. — Twitchy
Doesn’t matter he didn’t score... because neither do the sure winner of this game on their way counting bubbles in the bubble Cup race.
Demmer
Flashing the FU early. — Chicky.
Not that the period didn’t have its moments of body-slamming comedy...
Late in the period, the Nucks get a call. Go on the PP with a chance to get the 1st goal of the game - with no 1st goal for us.
Game thread isn’t worried. And already looking to the future.
Figured I might as well come watch the #1 goalie of the future
for some team or other. — radivel
Doesn’t matter. Nucks have have put 6 shots on goal and Lossy Fages 10.
Scrambly 1st period comes to an end at - . Shots: 10-6 Vegas. pic.twitter.com/rXNEhMm8gz
— Vancouver #Canucks (@Canucks) September 2, 2020
It’s doughnuts all round. Even after a healthy round of turnovers.
2nd Period
As you may have noticed the Stolen Knights have made 2nd period pressure an unhealthy time and place for the Nucks.
That’s because the Gollum Nights have terrorised most 2nd periods in this series, out-chancing the Nucks 2,714 to 23.
Since the canny inverted bags of sand strategy the Nucks employed was so effective, why change now?
The game thread is fine with this Nucked puck possum play.
geez
win a fucking puck battle or connect a pass. Either would be great. — Twitchy
Not sure if I like this new Canucks strategy
“You can’t miss 100% of the shots that you never take.”
Lulling the opposing goalie into a true sense of security is hardly going to result in goals. — radivel
And on and on it went. Vegans attack. Demmers stops.
Then the refs step up their game - their penalise the Nucks and Roos game.
Maybe they
Should have called the stick hold first? — Chicky
Eff off Vegas
Stop having the reffing hand you a goal lazy asses…
And yes I know it’s not a PP… but the lead up was. — Chicky
Nucks PK takes care of the messy business.
And the Nucks virtual 5-on-5 works its 1-on-3 disappearing magic.
Theodore beat 3 Canucks — Westy
Actually it was 4 Canucks that were beat. The last one beaten was Demmer. Ugh.
The Moulting Shite have scored the 1st goal of the game. And worse, when they score first, they win every game. Every game in the bubble.
Every game. That’s a stat that crushes our game thread grapes. If they weren’t already crushed by trained professionals - the greatest vintners known to porch climbing fermentation.
We’ve seen this movie before. Floodgates: The Sequel is just about to start.
Or is it?
It’s Lotto 649 line time, 27 seconds later. The Greener blender is looking for some mix-it-up magic.
And the Lotto line goes magical Brockstar. From a hard slap pass from Milsie after a great setup from Huggy.
2️⃣7️⃣ seconds after Vegas took the lead, Boeser and Vancouver answered. It's 1-1 through 40; shots are 28-10 Golden Knights. pic.twitter.com/Gv10hhXVqP
— Vancouver #Canucks (@Canucks) September 2, 2020
Brock had 1 point thus far in the series. And about a hundred points of trade conversation at NM.
Brocky! FINALLY! — Twitch
Insane goal scored by @BBoeser16, his fourth of the playoffs! https://t.co/lc8kDo0wi0 pic.twitter.com/pkwLjy9hlo
— Vancouver #Canucks (@Canucks) September 2, 2020
Brock played his best game of the series. Led all Nucks with 5 shots.
Brock can be streaky. But, the Nucks are sticking their stingy sandbag game. Waited until 12:30 of the period to put a shot on net.
Doesn’t matter.
What matters is, the floodgates of desert puck flooding are drying up faster than Bettman hockey quips.
It’s back to evens. And that’s frustrating. Not for us. For that smug team of stolen players.
The bag of sand was heavier this period, but more efficient. Nucks put 4 shots on goal. And got 1 goal. The Glittertown Nights put 18 on Demko. And got 1 goal.
That’s some canny hockey right there. Also a totally one-sided scary movie.
This one-sided game is close — Westy
Apparently being close is all that counts.
2️⃣7️⃣ seconds after Vegas took the lead, Boeser and Vancouver answered. It's 1-1 through 40; shots are 28-10 Golden Knights. pic.twitter.com/Gv10hhXVqP
— Vancouver #Canucks (@Canucks) September 2, 2020
3rd Period
As scary as the Nighties are in most 2nd periods, they are completely freaking fearsome in 3rd periods. Have outscored every team by triple digits in the bubble. Adjusted for dramatic inflation.
Doesn’t matter.
You know what matters?
The Nucks getting the next goal. Despite getting outplayed and over-matched by the win-now team, the Lotto line is picking their time. Their place. And their tips.
It’s a quick shot from Brock with an Alien tip and an unbelievable goal. For the lead!
.@_EPettersson with an OMG tip to give the #Canucks a 2-1 lead pic.twitter.com/RkP1oTtBBJ
— Vancouver #Canucks (@Canucks) September 2, 2020
WOOOO PETEY!
Nice shot brock! — Twitch
So smooth, you can't even see Petey tip it pic.twitter.com/ThHrn5QAM1
— Vancouver #Canucks (@Canucks) September 2, 2020
The Nucks are leading with only 17 minutes to go.
17 minutes?!!!
We’re doomed!
Or are we?
Demmer!
Would be nice if the canucks defense could do something other than chip it deep and let vegas skate it out yet again. Maybe, I dunno, try some short passes. — Twitch
Demmer is still stopping everything he can see. And stuff he can’t, he smothers.
37 saves and counting... pic.twitter.com/Efqu8QR4fB
— Vancouver #Canucks (@Canucks) September 2, 2020
We want the game to be called at the 5 minute point. Our wants are not important to NHL timekeepers.
Down a goal, the Sullen Knights are pressing for another tie. Greedy. They’ve already had 2 ties through 2 periods. Nucks aren’t feeling generous. Despite getting out-chanced. Out-shot 15-7.
Finally... time is on our side. Sort of.
Nucks playing much better this period
but still have to defeat their arch-nemesis, the last 2-3 minutes of the game. — radivel
The more the clock winds down, the more wound up we get.
It wouldnt be the canucks
without giving us the last two minutes in high stress terror… — Twitchy
Of course the Vegans pull their goalie. And the game thread stress ramps up to the 40 ounce level.
Whatever it takes. Two minutes to play. pic.twitter.com/04mzfZqEki
— Vancouver #Canucks (@Canucks) September 2, 2020
Then Stoner takes a penalty. And Capt’n Bo scores the EN! 0.1 seconds late.
Doesn’t matter.
Your Vancouver Canucks WIN 2-1!!!!!!!!!!
Unbelievable win. Some might say unexpected.
Being in the semis was a bonus series already. Pushing the Swollen Nights to a Game 6 is so much extra extra bonus bubble hockey, who’d have thought it possible? Other than Atty.
What did I say in the game-day thread?
I said that we’ll win, because we should have no chance against Vegas with a goalie who never played a playoffs game.
Only our Canucks can do this. — Atty
And did it they did.
Enjoy the HNIC video snips. Still miss the 2 Johns, but we’ll take the win.
Demmer stole the game. Stopped 42 of 43 shots.
#Canucks Thatcher Demko is the first rookie goalie to win his NHL playoff debut when his team was facing elimination since Jose Theodore of the Canadiens in 1997 pic.twitter.com/kKSxvWJiai
— Sportsnet Stats (@SNstats) September 2, 2020
The underdog Nucks out hit and out blocked the Knighties.
GAME STATS (The Stats We Dream Of)
SOG | FO% | PP | PIM | HITS | BLKS | GVA | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Canucks
VAN
|
17 | 52% | 0/3 | 8 | 38 | 22 | 22 |
Golden Knights
VGK
|
43 | 48% | 0/2 | 10 | 31 | 13 | 15 |
PLAYER STATS (Demko Saves The Game, The Game Thread, The World)
# | Forwards | GP | G | A | P | P | +/- | S | PIM | PIM | SOG | HITS | BLKS | GVA | TKA | FO% | TOI | PP TOI | SH TOI | PP | GW |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
6 | B. Boeser | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 18:26 | 2:13 | --:-- | 0 | ||||
9 | J.T. Miller | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 45 | 19:03 | 3:03 | 0:11 | 0 | |||
18 | J. Virtanen | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 12:31 | 1:14 | --:-- | 0 | ||||
20 | B. Sutter | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 50 | 11:35 | 0:17 | 2:13 | 0 | |||
26 | A. Roussel | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8:53 | --:-- | --:-- | 0 | ||||
40 | E. Pettersson | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 67 | 18:18 | 2:23 | --:-- | 0 | |||
53 | B. Horvat | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 44 | 21:20 | 2:54 | --:-- | 0 | |||
64 | T. Motte | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 13:55 | --:-- | 1:47 | 0 | ||||
70 | T. Pearson | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 18:34 | 1:14 | 1:38 | 0 | ||||
73 | T. Toffoli | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 14:34 | 1:47 | --:-- | 0 | ||||
83 | J. Beagle | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 78 | 10:04 | --:-- | 2:11 | 0 | |||
88 | A. Gaudette | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 50 | 8:04 | 1:09 | --:-- | 0 |
# | Defense | GP | G | A | P | P | +/- | S | PIM | PIM | SOG | HITS | BLKS | GVA | TKA | FO% | TOI | PP TOI | SH TOI | PP | GW |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
5 | O. Fantenberg | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 16:16 | 0:23 | 1:49 | 0 | ||||
8 | C. Tanev | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 21:03 | 0:26 | 2:11 | 0 | ||||
23 | A. Edler | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 26:39 | 1:46 | 2:11 | 0 | ||||
43 | Q. Hughes | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 17:33 | 2:08 | --:-- | 0 | ||||
51 | T. Stecher | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 18:10 | --:-- | --:-- | 0 | ||||
57 | T. Myers | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 17:02 | 0:28 | 1:49 | 0 |
# | Goalies | GP | REC | GA | SV | SA | S | EV | PP | SH | SAVE-SHOTS | SV% | PIM | TOI | GAA |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
35 | T. Demko | -- | 42 | 43 | 38–39 | 4–4 | 0–0 | 42–43 | .977 | 0 | 60:00 |
Let’s hear from the amazing underdogs and their barking coach.
LIVE: Hughes, Pettersson, Boeser, Demko and #Canucks Head Coach Travis Green discuss their Game 5 win with the media, presented by @TheProvince.
— Vancouver #Canucks (@Canucks) September 2, 2020
https://t.co/hSa6OXbzgM
I had expected this to be my last recap of the season. Had the sentimental keepsakes all lined up masked-up with ready-to-deploy 100% natural cliches.
But the No-Quit-Nucks-No-Matter-What are still playing. And Boston isn’t. That’s a little moral victory right there.
And Huggy gets to extend his rookie playoff points streak.
— Vancouver #Canucks (@Canucks) September 2, 2020
Quinn Hughes has put the NHL on alert this post-season, he's the real deal. pic.twitter.com/6jGfZ551Ad
And Pete just beat Bure in postseason goals.
Putting the @Canucks up 2-1 in the 3rd period of Gm5 in their series with the Golden Knights, Elias Pettersson has passed Pavel Bure (6 in 1992) for the most goals in a single postseason year by a VAN player younger than 23 pic.twitter.com/DQsaaPbFuH
— StatsCentre (@StatsCentre) September 2, 2020
Not the Nucks best, but definitely Demmer’s game of the year. Hello Goalie Controversy!
Enjoy this amazing run as long as it goes. Get your thirsty Thursday ready for more.
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