The Vancouver Canucks secured a thrilling 6-4 win over the New Jersey Devils, with standout performances from J.T. Miller and Elias Pettersson. Each player notched two goals and an assist, contributing significantly to the Canucks’ victory at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.
Miller and Pettersson, reunited on the first line with Brock Boeser, displayed excellent chemistry reminiscent of their previous season’s collaboration. Miller praised the line’s synergy, noting their effective play around the net. Pettersson echoed this sentiment, emphasizing their hard work and mutual reliability.
The win marked goaltender Thatcher Demko’s 100th NHL victory as he made 21 saves. The Canucks (25-11-3), now on a 9-2-2 run in their past 13 games, exhibited a solid performance, leading 5-2 early in the third period before the Devils closed the gap.
New Jersey (21-15-2), despite the loss, saw strong efforts from Colin Miller with two goals and Erik Haula with a goal and an assist. Goalie Nico Daws faced 36 shots from the Canucks. The Devils played without top-line center Jack Hughes due to an upper-body injury, which coach Lindy Ruff acknowledged as a challenge.
Vancouver dominated the first period with a 17-5 shot advantage, with Pettersson scoring just 41 seconds into the second period. Miller’s two consecutive goals further extended Vancouver’s lead. However, New Jersey fought back, with Colin Miller and Haula reducing the deficit.
The game saw both teams trade goals, with Conor Garland and Pettersson scoring for Vancouver and Colin Miller and Nico Hischier responding for New Jersey. Joshua’s empty-net goal sealed the win for the Canucks.
Coach Rick Tocchet praised the Canucks’ resilience, especially in withstanding the Devils’ late surge and successfully killing a crucial penalty.
In addition to the on-ice action, the game featured milestones and returns. Quinn Hughes’ multipoint game set a new record for a Canucks defenseman, and Carson Soucy returned after missing 23 games due to injury. Graeme Clarke made his NHL debut for the Devils.
This victory for the Canucks not only showcases their offensive prowess but also their ability to hold off a comeback from a competitive Devils team. The performance of Miller and Pettersson, in particular, highlights their importance to Vancouver’s success.
