Zack Attacks the Avs - And Wins! | Anne-Marie Sorvin-USA TODAY Sports

You want to see how to end 2 streaks at once? Me too

In the pantheon of MUST WIN Nucks stretch games, this one was Top 3 in a toga.

We all knew they could right the wrongs of careless collapsolypes - not me, but others.

Of course, it’s typical Canuckian tactics. You believe they can do it. They break your spirits. You give up on them and they come back to win a key game and the pattern repeats.

I know, don’t get too high or too low. But the dog’s breakfast last game was so low, we were growling for scraps on the floor.

With this win... we’re climbing the walls and grabbing the chandeliers. If we had chandeliers in the NM lounge... we don’t... so we clung to the smoke alarm until the cheap plastic broke. But, our spirits are intact and that’s what counts.

The smart money knew this Nuckable win was coming because 2 things:

1) Nucks are on a 4 game L-streak.

2) Avs are on a 9 road game W-streak. (wonder what that feels like)

All season, the Nucks can be counted on to break streaks. Sometimes our losing streaks, many times other team’s L-streaks. And on occasion, other team’s W-streaks.

Who ya gonna call? Streakbusters.

1st Period

The Nucks open the period the best possible way. The rare and much sought after first goal.

And it’s not just any goal. It’s a Redemption goal for Stetch. From a sweet setup from Millsie.

Troy Stetcher

needing redemption…gets a goal — Westy

Stetch is reducing his own deficit and could soon be able to apply for the NM low interest credit line.

It’s the 1-0 lead at home against the Avs!

The Avs?! With that MacBeast on skates.

Better to get some insurance. Alien style.

With a quick clear from Toffee, Pete and Millsie are in on a 2-on-1.

Francouz is playing Alien roulette - will he shoot or pass or shoot or pass? Time and space are closing in. Pete is passing and Millsie is scoring!

Wooo!!! It’s a 2-0 Nucks lead.

For about a minute. MacKinnon breaks in, dekes Huggy, passes to Johnson and that ends the 2 goal lead.

Game thread, however, is noticing some little things...

Nice line change, Little Things

seriously, he goes for the line change when he’s at the offensive hashmarks,

you know, rather than playing D through the neutral zone and picking up Johnson….

grrrrrrr — copey

But, we know Loui is risk-averse and never likes to pick up a Johnson.

The Avs climb mount pressure and put more shots on net. Demko may have been a little weak on that first goal, but he’s not going to let anymore in. This period.

Avs outshoot Nucks 18-7, but not out score. So that’s a small victory.

2nd Period

Did you know the Avs have scored more goals in the 2nd period than any other team this season? Probably in the hundreds, but I’d have to check.

Speaking of checking, the Zack attack is back and hitting hard. The entire 3rd line is playing hard. And making the Avs pay.

Roos and Zack make the Avs pinch pay at the Nucks blueline. Zack attacks down the wing and rifles a shot into the net. Wooo!!!

2 goal lead restored!

For a minute and change.

Of course, MacKinnon slips his Special Ed check and passes to Landeskog for the goal. Of course. Bo’s line was tasked to shutdown MacKinnon. Did pretty good. Can never be pretty enough tho.

If Bo can’t stop Nate, maybe Demko can.

And even better, CoTU’s ref-erential equations didn’t count the puck that was pushed over the goal line after the net was pushed off the moorings with Demko inside.

And then... yes... it’s those lovable riverboat gambling, o-zone pinching Nucks who give up their own 2-on-1 and it’s suddenly a tie game.

That collapsic feeling is creeping up behind our collapsing hopes.

No worries. We have a 3rd line that’s cycling hard and going for the grease.

Gaud is making Avs D look mortal, sends a pass from the corner into the greasy crease where Roos is waiting to make puck jammin’ fun again.

The insurmountable (for minutes) 1 goal lead is restored!

The Nucks take the 4-3 lead to the intermission. I’m not making this up.

Not only that, the Nucks are playing harder this period, get 10 shots. Limit the Avs to just 5 shots. Unfortunately they score 2. On just 5 shots.

No matter. A lead is a lead. And we’ll take that as a sign. Leading after 2 periods must mean we can lead after 3. It’s possible.

3rd Period

Not only possible, but completely improbable. With a 3rd line hitting, clicking and scoring, they’re like an improbability generator.

But first... we have to endure another couple failed Nucks power plays. And some 4-on-4 action that was difficult to watch when the MacBeast is on the ice against Sutz.

Half way through the period, looked as if that 1 goal lead may not be enough, as the Nucks call a spontaneous fire wagon hockey practice in their own zone.

Worse, the Nucks go down a man... because...

And now

Special Ed gets to rest in the box. 2 minutes for being too tired — jimmi

But the Nucks may bend and fumble a bit, they don’t break or cave under the avalanche of pressure. Sure, that might sting, but think of Tanev, the warrior.

Blocked a 100mph MacBeast shot at close range on the PK. Had to have his stitches on his stitches repaired after he sought justice when Bo was clipped low and came back to play.

Tanev initiated the scrum and was penalised... Loui was involved in the scrum as well.

everyone in a scrum

but Loui who keeps a safe distance on the outer scrum area — jimmi

It’s intense playoff hockey, just 16 games early.

ornery game — radivel

With the feisty Nucks keeping the Avs behind the score-wall, they are still leading in the final 3 minutes and the game thread isn’t breathing. Or typing.

Doesn’t matter. Because, it’s time for 3rd line mayhem. Hemming the Avs in their own end. Roos flicks a pass out front and Zack zips a shot upstairs where Nucky wins are made.

Wooooooo!!! Great play. Great goal! Great 5-3 lead!

How great is that?

So great the Avs pull their goalie and tempt our EN Specialists to do what they specialise in.

Scoring empty net goals.

For those who care about correct EN Special Stats, that was Pearson’s 6th EN goal this season. That’s pretty special.

Great to see Tanev get a point. And yeah... Loui sharing the EN glory was nice.

And, I’m not making it up, the Nucks win 6-3 over the 2nd best team in the Central.

The Nucks needed this win. For 4 big reasons. And so did we.

The 2 Johns are giving out hatties and good vibes.

GAME STATS (The Good Kind. Finally.)

PLAYER STATS (Zackin’ it up)