RECAP #24: NUCKS WIN ZIP! Shutout 3-Zip

The Nucks are not a good team. Now trending to be the worst team in the division.

To be fair, the Nucks improved this game in some areas, but so did Smith. It was Mr. Timeless Smith making timeless saves look easy for his 400th career SO. Yes, he’s that old.

Also to be fair, Demko was busy making timely saves - stopped at least 4 breakaways - until the stopping time ran out mid 2nd on a Fedler™ penalty.

Also, this Tippet-coached Oil didn’t allow a single breakaway. It felt like the Nucks were playing the Yotes defensive structure with McD and Drysaddle running rampant on offence. Not a good look for Nucks fans who already have multi-season PTSD.

While the Nucks had good jump in the 1st - the line shakeup bore results - allowed Jake to take 2 Fedlers™ early. Once the game wore on seemed only Jake could test Smith.

And then, the Nuck Luck Nucks PK gave up the 1st goal of the game mid 2nd period.

While the Nucks pushed back from that insurmountable tally, we knew, the Nucks knew, the Oil knew, there was no way in Nucking hell they could recover from a 1 goal deficit.

To prove the point, the Nucks who had outshot the Oil in the 1st (13-9) and 2nd (15-12) periods, put only 4 shots on Smith in the 3rd - and no shots on the PP in the 3rd.

moral defeat....

Virtanen actually played better than any other nuck in the 2nd and 3rd.

Ay, there’s the rhubarbing the team took. Edmonton played taller, Nurse was a beast in his own end, their passing is way crisper, and they allowed zero breaks against. Tippett has finally got them playing the right way. They’re going to be tough in the playoffs for sure, oh wait, their goalie is jekyll and hyde. — copey

Oh well... the moral of the moral loss is... it sucks to lose 2 straight to the Oil.

At least the game thread was well-stocked with vital supplies.

jimmi cynic

How far away is this Nucks team from last summer’s playoff run?

Well

Hunh — Chicky

Let’s start with the good news.

*(crickets)*

With that out of the way, let’s bear down on the facts.

THE SOOOO FUGLY:

The last time the Nucks had a 4 game home losing streak it was in the final couple weeks before they freed Willy.

The Nucks are now 0 and 12 when giving up the 1st goal.

The Nucks are tied with the Sens at 85 for the most Goals Against in the NHL.

The Nucks PP hasn’t scored in so long that I’d have to look it up in the special NM Big Book of Depressing Stats. I’m not doing that. Suffice it to say the Nucks PP is the worst in the division and has dropped a slot to 23rd in the league.

The Nucks PK is slightly better, mainly because it hasn’t allowed a goal on every 2 minute duration of doom. Only 40% PK doom in this game. Do we miss Motte on the PK? 100% we do. Faeries are far too greedy and just cruel - why didn’t they take Eddie or Rous?

The line shake up helped, but again as the game wore on the lazy penalties took their toll. Maybe not lazy, but sloppy, because Fedler™ is too slow or Rous is too Rous.

Doesn’t matter. What matters is... Nucks are not playing like a disciplined team that cares about keeping their decent 5-on-5 on the ice long enough to get a decent result.

No worries, Bo’s best play of the game will cheer you up.

Not his best tip ever.

Which meant the game thread had to open another can...

jimmi cynic

And worse... while the Nucks ran out of scoring, the game thread ran out of the good porch climber. Had to settle for imported porch-crawler.

jimmi cynic

And the Nucks had to settle for another shutout loss. That’s gotta be frustrating for them. We know it’s frustrating for us fans to watch. Although... those multi-million paydays might help take the edge off. Or at least buy better imported hooch.

GAME STATS (Nothing to see)

	SOG	FO%	PP	PIM	HITS	BLKS	GVA
Oilers EDM	34	57%	2/5	8	17	21	2
Canucks VAN	32	43%	0/4	10	17	16	4

PLAYER STATS (No goals, no points, no nuttin’)

Can the 2 John’s make another home loss more enjoyable? For a couple minutes.

Getting tired of the post-lost game pressers? Me too.

At least the Nucks get a well (or ill) deserved break from the loss streak. Don’t play again until Monday in Winterpeg. Scheduled to lose 2 games there before returning home to be beaten 2 times more by the laughing Laffers.

8 game L-streak within reach. Makes us recall fondly, from the Before Times, that November ‘18 Straight 8 loss streak, the Sedins handled with lossy stoicism.

Oh well... 3 days of soul-searching, attitude realignment and determination to do better. For us in the game thread.

For the Nucks, they will probably just be frustrated and happy to get back on the road where they’ve had so much success this season. This lost season.

This season that promised so much and delivered so much, so so much... disappointment.