RECAP #2 - Nucks Get McD’d In The Scorenuts - Lose to Oil 5-2

Did we think the Nucks who so successfully managed their previous game against McD and the hangers-on, could repeat that effort and execution again?

No, we did not.

We only hoped that Demko, Defeater of the Vegan Score clan, would resume normal no GA service.

Some things are best left unhoped. Unthought. Unpossible.

Although there was a brief flash of leather stinginess.

Seems Tippet went full Torts on his team and they responded. Actually, from what I saw, they over-responded. But, that’s why they don’t pay me the big bucks to critique the team from the world’s largest and deserted shopping mall.

Was Green too nice in practice? Or just in theory? Did they suffer from adrenaline-depletion-day-after-victory-syndrome?

We don’t know. What we do know is they were the playing like the Nucks of a less than 500 era. In the 2nd of a B2B.

Oh well... 1 out of 2 ain’t bad. Except 500 hockey may not actually be as wonderful as looks from below.

As much as I’d like to skip a few periods, possibly inspired by the Nucks period skipping, let’s get this WORLD’S BEST PLAYER narrative and small game recap going.

1st PERIOD

If there was one lesson we learned last night, it was the importance of controlling play. Pushing the game. Pushing the boundaries.

While the Oil were out skating, out playing the Nucks, the game thread is still in the happy hour silver lining lounge.

Wheeee!

Firewagon hockey! — Twitchy

nucks stuck

in their own zone for almost a minute. Haven’t seen that before — jimmi

But then... Motte pushed the 2 minute boundary a little hook too far.

And with the best Nucks PKist in the box and the Oil PP - that had the league’s best PP in the NHL universe last season - looked like last year’s PP and scored at the worst possible time.

It’s the worst time to play from behind on the road. But, hey, it’s just one goal.

Pete can get that back, right? Totally.

If only he got those high tech high strength sticks instead of...

Petey has Edler’s sticks — Westy

Doesn’t matter. The Nucks crack PP got their own special teams moment. The game thread thought was very special.

It takes a special team

to make the Oilers defense look like the Demers era Devils… — Twitchy

The incredibly consistent Nucks goaless PP continues its incredible streak of consistency.

Oh well. Still a close game in the last seconds of the period.

Until it wasn’t. In the last second. The last freaking second, the Most Important 1st Round Draft pick in the entire universe scored.

Can’t imagine going into the dressing room after that deflation from the BEST PLAYER IN THE FREAKING UNIVERSE.

But the game thread can imagine and recall things that are best not recalled.

That’s the Canucks I know

last second goal against at the end of the period — Westy

At least the Nucks weren’t out shot. By much. Shots 17-10 Oil.

While Demko blew the shutout continuation bid, he was keeping the Nucks in the game until they found their legs, passes, mojo and stuff. [SPOILER ALERT: They Don’t]

2nd PERIOD

Nucks are down 2-0. That’s not so bad. We know the 2 goal lead is the unsafest lead in hockey.

And just to prove it, new Canuck and master blaster, Nate Schmidt, unloads a bomb.

A rocket bomb so intense we have to watch the slomo version so human eyes can view it without blinking. Too often.

BLAM! Take that 1st Round Pick of All Time. We’ve got you just where we want.

To restore the unsafest lead in hockey.

A few minutes later, with our best PKist in the box again - which after the game he commented to Myers that it seems quite spacious - yes, while in the box admiring all space and places to put one’s spacey thoughts - yes, the Anointed One, the Really Great, No Kidding, One scored using Eddie as a non-moving pylon screen. Ugh.

Not that it isn’t great to see the recent Greatness play. It’s just we prefer to watch it be great against some other team. We enjoyed the zero-point birthday boy much more last night.

Anyways, we can’t always have Pete, Brock or Bo save the game for us.

But somebody must atone.

In the pre-game thread, Westy’s sauronian vision was cast upon the 4th line - and gazed upon Motte. That’s an uncomfortable feeling.

No wonder Motte went to the box twice. And yet...

Westy’s directives are always followed. Sort of.

Motte redeems himself by scoring a goal to compensate for the 2 that were scored while he was distracted in the box and not being our best PKist.

With a shot - slap pass style - from our other new D, Mr T. Hamonic, Motte deflects the puck to score the winning goal of the game.

In an alternate universe it would have been the winning goal, if our best PKerathist wasn’t in the box for those 2 too big goals against.

No matter.

What matters is it’s a one goal game. Again. And we know from last night how easy it is to come back from a one deficit and takeover the game.

We know that. But... not everyone on the Nucks is certain.

And worse, the Most Important Belated Birthday Player in the Universe isn’t feeling fully gifted-up with his 3 point game.

He might be the best player in the universe. But, he’s too greedy to win our affections on this night. Pulls a dirty deke on Demmers and pops in a backhander. For the Hattie. Of course.

Before we get to the grim part of the game, it’s not worth noting that the Oil have as many shots on goal midway through the 2nd as they had in the whole game last night.

Also not worth noting the Nucks get a couple more power plays that do nothing to dispel the incredible streak of consistent nothing-to-show-for-it specialness.

Although... there was a special moment when the Nucks were on the PP and Nuge put a dirty high hit on Brock. Huggie Bear skated right over and broke his stick over Nuge’s back. Quinn was sending a message. Quinn was sent to the box for sending a message - probably with too much feeling and one of Pete’s sticks. Sticks that Pete got cheap from Eddie.

The period ends where it started. The Nucks playing on the wrong side of the lead, down 4-2, but not getting outshot, it’s 18-16 for the road (weary) team.

3rd PERIOD

Welcome to the 3rd instalment of the Playing From Behind Playbook.

This chapter does not end any better than previous ones. The comeback kids narrative is still coming back from the long off season.

And worse, the young star of last game, Nils, has a very rookie moment and can’t clear the puck out of the Nucks zone. A zone that was zoned for free high danger shots by the Nucks Department of B2B Game Zones. Or something.

Oil add one more. It’s 5-3 Oil. Or 5-2. The final score isn’t important.

What’s important is that our young millionaire kids get a chance to play a kids games in a compressed season where off-nights aren’t on.

Oh well... since it’s a tie... we go to...

OT

Just kidding.

The 2 Johns were on Sportynet Pacific - with a 750ms delay, possibly because when Shorty gets talking about sandwiches it can get almost porn-o-juicy.

However, they aren’t available for the YT Highlights. Also... there’s just the 2 Nucks highlights, which in case you like to keep score (I don’t), means the Nucks didn’t have enough highlights. So... skip this one. It’s a shortened season, but why make yourself wish it was shorter.

GAME STATS (Look away!)

PLAYER STATS (Motte Point)

Can’t win them all. But at least we can win 50% of them.

I liked it better when the Nucks 2021 season had no losses.

Oh well... the team can learn from this not-good-enough performance.

The Nucks don’t have a very good record in games on the 2nd night of a B2B.

Last season we could blame Green for overplaying Marky and keeping him in net for the 2nd tilt in as many nights. This season we can blame Green for swapping goalies.

Can’t blame Green for keeping J.T. out of the lineup. We have Benn for that.

Let’s hear from Green in the blue green zoom room. And hope he doesn’t pull the Best Player in Universe card. That card is getting dog-eared tired.

Let’s hear how the players felt about not playing nearly as well as last night. And hopefully not resort to the B2B game chestnut... because we already cracked that one.

Throw this game on the instant dumpster fire of forgetfulness. And just remember to be better. Motte knows the score. Even if I don’t.

We’re moving on. At least the Nucks are getting out of hAlberta with a split.

Or are they? Seems the eveel scheduleezers at NHL Cruelty Command demand the Nucks play a 3rd game in Alberta. This Saturday, the Nucks play in Cowtown to face the Calgary Canucks. How weird is that?

Very. It’s not like the Nucks have to play themselves (their former selves) 10 times this season.

Oh wait... it’s exactly like that.

The pandemic was bad enough. And now this.

Let’s take Friday off and regroup at the Nucks (blue and red) game thread on Saturday. Happy hours to follow, high glove-side.