Nico Hischier scores twice as Devils defeat Canucks 4-1 in Newark

The Story

Nico Hischier scored twice and added an assist to help the New Jersey Devils defeat the Vancouver Canucks 4-1 on Saturday at Newark, N.J.

Jesper Bratt also had a goal and an assist for the Devils, who got two assists from Jack Hughes.

Jake Allen made 20 saves while playing in his 500th career game.

For Vancouver, Linus Karlsson scored the team’s lone goal. Leevi Merilainen made 31 saves.

Hischier’s first goal was his 200th for New Jersey in 613 games, making him the fifth Swiss player to reach that total and the second fastest among that group. Timo Meier, his linemate, has 200 goals in 569 games.

Bratt and Hischier each scored power-play goals in the second period to put New Jersey ahead 4-1.

Jesper Boqvist scored late in the first period to give the Devils a 2-1 lead, with Amadeus Lombardi earning the rookie linemate point on the play, the first career point for Boqvist.

The Devils entered the game averaging low scoring, with six goals in three games and one power-play goal in 14 attempts. On Saturday, New Jersey finished 3-for-4 on the power play and recorded at least 30 shots in each of its first four games.

Vancouver’s Brock Boeser and Jake DeBrusk set up Karlsson’s power-play goal from the first period, which gave the Canucks a 1-0 lead.

Vancouver, which lost three straight games and had been outscored 14-5 during that stretch, began a six-game road trip.

The Canucks continue their swing with their next four games in six nights, starting with a matchup against the New York Rangers on Sunday. The Devils host Ottawa on Monday night.