GAME RECAP #5: NUCKS WIN! 1ST REG. WIN! Drop Hawks 4-1

What a difference a day spent in rain and wind in a different zone. No, not the moan zone, because in that zone no one can hear you cringe to a million.

Instead the Nucks players took the time, less an hour, to reflect on the worst loss of the season and were determined to find the effort that costs tens of millions to assure.

Perhaps I was hugely somewhat deflated by last game’s replay of 30 games from last season in under 60 minutes. Or maybe the Nucks just didn’t play well.

Whatever. This game the Nucks played better against a worse team. 1st period follies excepted. Or were they?

First line and 1st unit PP having a hard time creating offence. — Westy

Doesn’t matter. Because... good things are going to happen. How do I know this? Because recaps aren’t subject to real time queasy feelings.

THE GOOD

Any win over the fawking Hawks is a great victory. Especially with Burrowoughs on the ice. Sure, it’s an old and stale rivalry, but old and stale rivalries are never stale, just old. And stale.

The Huggie we love to see succeed was succeeding on the ice. Much better performance than last game where he was invisible.

Even better, the roar of a tiny tempest in a nano-rumpot at NM Panic Command And Uncontrolled Heaving was heard over the din of other smarter observers.

Road Rule 1: Get the 1st goal

Highmore gets the sweet apple on Dickie’s 1st Nuck goal.

Even better...

Highmore: an assist

Gaudette: healthy scratch again

We win the trade! — Raddy

Leading 1-0 in the 1st after the (barf if you had to watch it) Kane tribute, that’s pretty good. Getting stung by a Kane pass on the PK 2 minutes later, not so much.

We don’t have to care. Because Pearson is a very caring player. He cares about making Huggie’s shot a tip of the toast on the night. GWG right there!

Here’s something good, we haven’t seen in several periods. A Nucks PP goal! Not making it up. Brock did. 5-on-3.

The Nucks took a 2 goal lead into the 3rd and extended it. Read that sentence again. It will seem like it happened more often as the season drags on.

While some players like to shoot for the EN when the net of emptiness is but a smudge on their visor. Another player likes to break in on net and make sure. Garland is a total upgrade on Loui.

Not fond of glamourizing player stats, especially as it can lead to tedious pre-game tributes in foreign countries.

Am I the only one that felt assaulted after catching 8.6 seconds of the tribute, or is that just me? — Chicky

Not alone, but, this is a Quinning stat we can all gather round and gush about. Until next game.

THE NOT SO GOOD

Westy’s #FireGreen campaign took a step back. But so did the the top line’s play 5 on 5. Reuniting the lotto line was important - for fan sanity and bladder control - but they were too easily hemmed in. Hemmed in their own end too often.

I think we are seeing why Green hasn’t been playing the lotto line...they look like absolute garbage in their own zone. Boesers not himself and miller is miller, brainfarts and all. — Twitchy

But Pete is carrying his weight, right?

Petey needs to start being more of a threat. He has been largely ineffective for the past 4 periods. — Gwailoh

Yes, the Nucks PP, 5-on-3 edition scored, but went 1 for 4 on the night. As did the Hawking team that haven’t had a lead in any game they’ve played so far.

I’m not saying the Nucks PP needs to be deadly every game, but 50% effective couldn’t hurt.

THE SORTA FUGLY

Sure, the Newish Look Nucks got - finally - a regulation win over a weaker opponent. So that’s good. But, it’s 2 games too late for cart wheels and victory tap laps.

The lotto line needs to get their windfall mojo going. As soon as possible. When they win games, we win game threads. And not to put too pointy a sore point on it - after the Sabre-rattling we endured last Tuesday - we fans deserve a hattie. Or just 3 goals from the top line next game. And 2 from the 2nd. And 1 from the 3rd. And a couple shorties, ok?

Video Replay

John and John Hirshie call the 1st Reg win of this long and twisted roadie season.

GAME STATS (a win is the best stat of all)

	SOG	FO%	PP	PIM	HITS	BLKS	GVA
Canucks VAN	25	55%	1/4	13	17	18	6
Blackhawks CHI	30	45%	1/4	13	23	14	10

SHOTTY SPOTTY (get outshotty not totally snotty)

PLAYER STATS (Engage Engagement Mode)

PRESSING PRESSURE

This road presser was the best presser yet. Just ask Brock.

Game’s 1st star and our SAVEior likes what the team did in front of him...

Over in the Greening Room, it’s all hard and smart on the words. Sorry, Westy.

If case you missed it during the exuberance of the opening good section, any win over the Windy Waifs is a great win. Something to build on. Not gloat on. Gloating is special work that is best saved for us fans. We haven’t gloated well in too long.

The last game of this roadiculous trip is finally near. In a time zone that is close to home. In a rink that is close to home. Against a smug billionaire who spent $850M to watch his team lose its 1st home game.

And lose they must, since these new expanded upstart teams need to spend years toiling in the league basement as is tradition. What happened in Vegas can stay there, thanks.

Enjoy this almost commanding victory over a former foe. For an hour or so. A new and uglier foe awaits. This historic meeting of an old and storied (we have lots of stories) franchise and a new vanity team with a silly name will become one for the ages. Or a couple days.