The Battle of the Nearly There - Nearly Won

This was a MUST Win. For both teams. Fortunately it ended in a tie. Until it was forced to go to a 10th round shootout. Markstrom was a victim of the last goal of the game. Not fair.

But still... the Nucks lead the Oil in the season series - have 5 won of 6 points. So... that’s not so bad.

This (pretend) rivalry will carry on into March. Exciting, eh.

If you’ve watched some recent Nucks home 1st periods...you’ve seen this before...

1st Period

Exciting first period - if you are fans of the visitors. Which we’re not, so that’s a problem to start with.

Some might say the Nucks were playing too conservative trying to shutdown McD. Others say the Nucks were playing without their best player. And they were. The Peteless Nucks aren’t as fun to watch.

Speaking of not fun to watch... the Nucks power play giving up the first goal of the game.

That shortie wasn’t that nifty. Sure, objectively, might have some degree of nift to it. But, as a stoic observer of the Nucks PP, it was the sort of play we never want to see again. Or previously. Defeats the spirit of the man-advantage axiom.

However, the Nucks Power Play played some remedial redemption. Sutter scores with less than 20 seconds on the PP clock. Yay!

Game is tied. We could stop now and move on to the trade front - which we won.

But, no. The period, the game continues. And not in a good way.

Because, the Oil get a power play. A power play with McDavid. Worse, a power play goal from McD. Damn, the kid can move. And shoot. And score. Dammit.

And that’s why we needed Pete tonight. Balance of the elite talent pool.

Period ends with the Oil leading 2-1. And worse, Oil outshoot us 12-5. When I say us, I mean Westy and his no offensiveness in the first.

Oh well. Moving on...

2nd Period

This is a better period for the Canucks. The best part of it is the Nucks score and the Oil don’t.

In a game thread defying feat of incredulity, the freshly inserted Schaller got an assist on Granny’s tieing goal. Ok, technically Schaller didn’t get the apple. Nor did Leivo. However, it was their forecheck pressure that made the puck pop out for Granny’s shelfie.

Granny’s 2nd goal in as many games. It’s a double redemption game for him. Why? I’ll tell you. Just not now.

Ok. Now it is. Granny got an assist on the first Nucks goal. Highest point total on the team on the night. Better points than Boeser or Bo - the funk twins. We’ll funk it out later.

Some even better news. The Nucks win. On the power play! Wooo!

I’m not making it up.

Hutton scored the game winner after spending 24 seconds in the Oil zone. And then...you won’t believe this...ok, you will. The Hitchcockian nightmare began. Hitch contested the goal on the basis the Nucks were offside. Offside? Almost a half minute of spectacular puck possession and a PP goal. And refs want to take that away? Take the good feeling out of the ROG?

Yes, they do. And did. Play was ruled offside. Stupid rule. Should only apply when we request it.

Back to tiesies. Ugh.

Despite the Oil outshooting the Nucks 7-6, the vital stat is the Nucks outscore the Orange-tinged visitors. Technically outscored them 2-0, but refs, rules and contests.

3rd Period

Let’s get this out of the way before you even think about the key 3rd period stat. No, the Nucks did not extend their league leading 3rd period GA stat.

That’s good. Nucks didn’t give up any goals in the 3rd.

Nucks didn’t score any goals in the 3rd. That’s not so good.

The intensity picks up in the last few minutes of the period.

Where Hutton won it (almost) in the 2nd, Virt just about ended it in the last seconds of the 3rd. Almost.

So...instead of just going away with a point each and keeping the inter-wild-carded race close and wild, the nhl wants to give 2 points away. To the wrong team.

OT

This was one of the better OTs this year. Lots of chances. Ok, some chances and lots of great saves. The best save of the period was on Sutter. And not saved by a goalie. Nurse robbed Sutter on the goal line. Dammit.

Doesn’t matter. We still won OT. Because.... this was announced.

We already won the trade. MDZ was NM game thread public frenemy #1. Or was it Pouliot?

Doesn’t matter. This trade was a big win because:

1. Alleviates the roster crunch when Pete returns.
2. Gives the Comets a dependable, vintage defender which they really need since they’ve been busy breaking D like ground at a West Van developer’s conference.
3. Gives the Nucks a 7th round lotto shot in 2020. Remember, some great star players were discovered in the 7th. Or was it the 2nd or 1st? Whatever.
4. We have one less D-fenderror to complain about in game threads.

What about OT, jimmi? What about it? It was good. Entertaining enough, just not good enough to get an extra point.

That would take the least exciting type of hockey. The skills for thrills section of the extended nhl sudden point program.

SHOOTOUT

Can you believe that Marky stoned McDavid and Draisaitl and Nugent-Hopkins and all the other hot shot Oil shooters? But one. Chiasson beat Marky for the so-SO winner. Dammit.

Marky was stellar all night. Better SV% than his opposing tender. That stings a little.

Why couldn’t they dress Pete just for the SO section? Why? Why? Screw the rules, why not?

10 rounds! Don’t believe it? Me neither.

And while we contemplate what might have been... let’s consider, WE WON THE TRADE! Ok, the cap space didn’t win quite as much, as the Nucks are paying 25% of MDZ’s fee for the rest of the season. Or it is forever? Not sure.

Doesn’t matter.

What matters is this. We won the game. Almost. We won the trade tho.

How about some stats? Fine.

The Stats

With 22 shots getting on goal and 26 shot attempts, the Nucks managed to make an average goalie look better than average. I know, it’s a Nucks special treat. At least when Pete returns that treat will be off the table.

The Almost Winning Team Stats