Writer’s Twitter: @ChrisMottHockey
Preview
The New Jersey Devils and Vancouver Canucks will square off at The Rock as teams that are both trying to make the playoffs this year, even though some analysts have not picked them to do so. The Devils are coming off an exciting win over the rival New York Rangers on home ice, while the Vancouver Canucks are in the midst of a four-game winning streak including shootout victories over the Philadelphia Flyers and St. Louis Blues. The game is in the afternoon at 1pm ET, and there are plenty of storylines to look forward to.
Storylines
The Hughes Brothers
Devils rookie centerman Jack Hughes will play his brother Quinn Hughes, a defenseman for the Vancouver Canucks, for the first time in NHL action today. The two have played against each other previously, with I believe their last head-to-head meeting coming with between the U.S. Development Program Team and the University of Michigan. Be prepared to see both Jack and Quinn Hughes with an extra pep in their steps today. Jack just scored his first point the other day and hopefully, that will get the ball rolling this season for him.
Jacob Markstrom
Markstrom has returned from a personal leave where he had a family matter to attend to. The Canucks’ goaltender had a personal matter come up and missed the past 2 or 3 games but should be ready to start against the Devils today. The Devils will give Blackwood his second start after he earned his first victory of the season against the Rangers, where he stopped 29 of 31 shots he faced.
Lineups
Devils
- Hall – Hughes – Palmieri
- Coleman – Zajac – Simmonds
- Gusev – Zacha – Bratt
- Wood – Rooney – Hayden
- Severson – Subban
- Greene – Vatanen
- Mueller – Tennyson
- Blackwood
Canucks
- Miller – Pettersson – Boeser
- Pearson – Horvat – Leivo
- Ferland – Sutter – Virtanen
- Schaller – Beagle – Motte
- Edler – Myers
- Hughes – Tanev
- Benn – Stetcher
- Markstrom