Photo: Andrew MacLean
The usual "Hughes Bowl" rivalry between the Devils and Canucks took on a bizarre new dynamic in Newark on Sunday afternoon. With Jack Hughes sidelined by injury and Quinn Hughes already traded to the Minnesota Wild, the spotlight belonged squarely to the youngest brother, Luke Hughes. He did not disappoint, scoring the Devils' lone goal, but his efforts weren't enough as the Canucks secured a tight 2-1 victory, snapping their two-game skid. The New Jersey loss was decided by the very trade that changed Vancouver's defense: the game-winning marker came from Zeev Buium, who scored his first goal as a Canuck since being acquired from the Wild. Buium and Jake DeBrusk provided the needed offense for Vancouver, sending the Devils to a frustrating home defeat in what truly felt like a turning point game for both franchises.
Vancouver Canucks Lineup:
DeBrusk - Rossi - Boeser
Hoglander - Kampf - Garland
Kane - O'Connor - Sherwood
Ohgren - Sasson - Karlsson
Pettersson - Hronek
Buium - Myers
Pettersson - Willander
Demko
Lankinen
New Jersey Devils Lineup:
Bratt - Hischier - Mercer
Palat - Glass - Brown
Cotter - Lammikko - Noesen
Parent - Glendening - Crookshank
Siegenthaler - Hamilton
Dillon - Hughes
Cholowski - White
Markstrom
Allen
Jake DeBrusk opened the scoring early in the game at 18:59 of the first period, giving the Canucks a 1-0 lead, scoring his ninth goal of the season off a rebound at the right post of a shot by Conor Garland, who shot from the right circle. At 13:12, Zeev Buium made it 2-0 for Vancouver on his fourth of the season and first as a Canuck when his cross-ice dump-in from the left face-off circle deflected off Brenden Dillon's stick outside the right post and past Jacob Markstrom for a power-play goal.
Luke Hughes found the back of the net for his third goal of the season, preventing a shutout for Thatcher Demko when he cut the deficit 2-1 at 15:58 of the second frame off a back pass from Jesper Bratt, who took a pass from Dawson Mercer before passing it to Hughes. He struck from the high slot, scoring on a stunning wrist shot.
Notes:
- In his Vancouver debut, Zeev Buium recorded both a goal and an assist.
- Marco Rossi and Liam Ohgren also made their Canucks debuts. Rossi had one shot on goal in 18:16 of ice time, who was activated off injured reserve after being out with a lower-body injury since November 11th. Ohgren had one shot on goal in 11:39.
- Conor Garland picked up a pair of assists, and Thatcher Demko made a total of 25 saves for Vancouver.
- On a 5-on-3 power play, the Canucks denied the Devils for 1:18 with both Tyler Myers (interference) and Kiefer Sherwood (closing hand on puck) serving minor penalties. ...During the PK, Demko made four saves on New Jersey. A left pad stop against Nico Hischier's one-timer from the right face-off circle, and a chest stop on Connor Brown.
- The Canucks are 12-17-3, and have won their second game in eight (2-5-1).
- Jacob Markstrom made a total of 13 saves for New Jersey.
- This was Jonas Siegenthaler's 400th NHL career game.
- The Devils held a 26-15 shot advantage; 8-1 in the final frame.
- The Devils are 18-14-1, and have been alternating wins and losses in their past four games. They were coming off a strong 4-1 win against the Anaheim Ducks on Saturday.
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