The Vancouver Canucks lost 4-1 to the New Jersey Devils after allowing power-play goals in three of their four penalty kills.
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The Vancouver Canucks dropped a 4-1 decision to the New Jersey Devils, with nearly all of New Jersey’s scoring coming while Vancouver was shorthanded.
According to the game recap, all but one of the Devils’ goals were scored during Vancouver’s penalty kill. Linus Karlsson scored the lone Canucks goal on the power play, while Leevi Meriläinen finished with 31 saves on 34 shots.
Vancouver made changes to its lineup after Thursday’s loss, taking Aatu Räty and Victor Mancini out in exchange for Brendan Gallagher and Luke Schenn.
The scoring began 5:27 into the first period when Karlsson scored on Vancouver’s power play, assisted by Brock Boeser and Jake DeBrusk. Shortly after that, Jonathan Lekkerimäki took a high-sticking penalty that put the Canucks on the penalty kill.
During the Devils’ first power-play goal, the game recap says Vancouver appeared to be trying different penalty-killing combinations, with a unit featuring Boeser and Liam Öhgren on the ice.
Later in the second period, Vancouver surrendered another power-play goal, this time on a hooking penalty taken by Boeser. The recap notes that Gallagher and Max Sasson were on the ice for the goal against.
New Jersey added a third power-play goal in the second period, scored by Nico Hischier after a “possession-filled” power play.
The game also included a goaltending disruption for Meriläinen. The recap says a shot from Luke Hughes hit Meriläinen’s skate with about five minutes remaining in the first period and knocked the blade out. Kevin Lankinen replaced Meriläinen after a TV timeout.
The recap states that Meriläinen came out for the second period and played the rest of the game, despite the skate blade being knocked out again.
New Jersey’s lone even-strength goal came at the end of the first period. The recap describes Filip Hronek boggling the puck while attempting to reset, with Jesper Boqvist and Amadeus Lombardi pouncing on the opportunity. Although Lankinen made the initial stop, Boqvist scored on the rebound.
Because Lankinen allowed the goal that ultimately stood as the game-winner, the recap credits the loss to him despite Meriläinen starting and playing nearly the entire game. Lankinen played 5:27.
In the third period, the recap says a power play was cancelled by another hooking call to Boeser. Because of an overlap from Rodrigues’ double-minor, Vancouver spent nine seconds on the penalty kill, which the recap describes as Vancouver’s first successful penalty kill of the game.
Other game details listed include that Vancouver allowed a power-play goal against on six consecutive penalty kills, and none of the four Canucks centres recorded a faceoff win rate above 50%. It also lists Brock Boeser tying Andre Boudrias for 16th all-time in Canucks history in power-play assists with 89.
New Jersey’s scoring summary was: 1st period at 8:03 (Nico Hischier), 1st period at 16:24 (Jesper Boqvist), 2nd period at 4:36 (Jesper Bratt), and 2nd period at 19:50 (Nico Hischier). There was no scoring in the third period. The game was played at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.
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