The second set of a back-to-back continues to burn the New Jersey Devils. They are now 1-7-1 in the second game and lost 6-4 to the Vancouver Canucks. This game was much closer than it should’ve been and the Devils found ways to get pucks through Thatcher Demko.
This game came at a price, as the Devils will now be without Jonas Siegenthaler who suffered a broken foot. The Devils are still in the thick of things but this was a game that you wish had a better outcome.
Game Recap
First Period
The first period ended scoreless, but there were fireworks. Vancouver scored a goal, or so they thought but after a successful coaching challenge by head coach Lindy Ruff, the goal was waived off. Vancouver was flying in the opening period and took advantage of a Devils team that played the night prior.
At five-on-five, it was all Vancouver as they heavily outplayed the Devils. They controlled the shot attempts (26-8). Vancouver heavily outshot the Devils 13-5 at even strength and 17-5 overall given the power play opportunities. Luckily, Nico Daws stood tall, finishing the period with 2.13 goals saved above expected. The Devils were fortunate to escape the period tied at zero.
Second Period
The sustained momentum that Vancouver generated in the first period translated into success in the second period. It was all Vancouver and the team scored three goals in the first 4:37 of the frame. Despite this, the Devils wouldn’t go away quietly, as they responded with two of their own.
Colin Miller helped spark the Devils by getting on the board and the offense surge kept going. The period ended with fireworks, as Erik Haula ripped a shot top shelf past Thatcher Demko to cut the deficit to one. However, Connor Garland on a great individual effort completed the wrap around to make it 4-2. The Devils would head to the third period down by two.
The Canucks were still the better team at even strength. They out-attempted the Devils heavily 32-18 and dominated the expected goals share 1.26-0.55. The Devils did a much-better job getting shots on goal this period, as they finished with 11.
Third period
Like the second period, the Canucks started the third period with a goal. With Brock Boeser drawing defenders towards him, he found an open Elias Pettersson who slid the puck five hole on Daws. The Devils would not go down without a fight, and they responded with two of their own.
Colin Miller picked up his second of the game, ripping a shot from the blue line to make it 5-3. The offense kept coming from the blue line, which was a common theme for the Devils in this game.
Brendan Smith ripped a slap shot from the blue line that found its way top shelf over Demko, goal was later changed to Nico Hischier. Like the three goals prior, shots from far out have gotten the better of Demko in this game. The Canucks would score an empty net goal and when the horn sounded, the Devils lost the game 6-4.
Wrap Up
The New Jersey Devils drop yet another game in the second of a back-to-back set. Vancouver outplayed them tremendously in this one and deservedly won the game.
Game Notes
- Offense was hard to come by in this game. With key players such as Jack Hughes, Timo Meier, and Ondrej Palat the offense had missing elements. When the game was played at five-on-five, Vancouver smothered the Devils and the lack of offense generation was evident. The Devils got outshot 35-23, out-attempted 70-41, out-attempted in the high-danger area 17-6, and got dominated in the expected goals share 3.29-1.33.
- Nico Daws did all he could in this matchup. He was decent in his first two starts but this one was a challenge for him. He got peppered all night and started strong with 2.13 goals saved above expected. As the game ended, he finished with -1.28 goals saved above expected and a .878 save percentage. He faced his heaviest workload in the high danger area, finishing with a .778 save percentage.
What’s Next?
The Devils get much needed rest and take on the Tampa Bay Lightning next Thursday.