Fighting to stay in the playoff race, the injury-riddled Vancouver Canucks will look to get on track when they visit the New Jersey Devils on Monday.
The Canucks are 0-1-1 in the first two stops of their six-game road trip, and are coming off one of their more frustrating losses of the season. Vancouver (32-26-12, 76 points) outshot the New York Rangers by a 39-12 margin on Saturday, yet the Rangers emerged with a 5-3 victory.
Four of New York’s goals came in the third period after Vancouver forwards Elias Pettersson and Nils Hoglander had left the game due to undisclosed injuries. Canucks coach Rick Tocchet said the pair were “doubtful” to play Monday.
With Filip Chytil (concussion) and Thatcher Demko (lower-body injury) also sidelined, defenseman Quinn Hughes felt the Canucks were “playing gutsy” despite the undermanned lineup.
“I thought we competed hard, especially with two forwards going down, having to go 10 forwards in the third [period]. … Nine times out of 10, I think we walk away with that one, but in this instance we don’t,” Hughes said.
Demko hasn’t played since Feb. 8, but the netminder is traveling with the Canucks on the road trip. Kevin Lankinen has started 10 of Vancouver’s last 11 games and is also battling an illness, which could explain why he conceded four goals on 11 Rangers shots. The Canucks have been reluctant to give much action to inexperienced backup Arturs Silovs, but the third-stringer could start Monday if Lankinen needs rest and Demko isn’t ready.
The depleted roster only adds to the stress of Vancouver’s postseason bid. The Canucks are chasing the St. Louis Blues for the final Western Conference wild-card slot, with the Calgary Flames and Utah Hockey Club also in hot pursuit.
New Jersey (37-28-6, 80 points) is in third place in the Metropolitan division, six points up on the Rangers with 11 games to play. While the Devils remain in a playoff position, they’re also looking for stability after a long stretch of inconsistent hockey.
The Devils are 4-7-1 in their last 12 home games, including Saturday’s 3-2 loss to Ottawa. The Senators scored three redirected goals within a 4:39 span in the second period, and the Devils couldn’t catch up despite a 15-4 shot advantage in the third frame.
“I just don’t think that in the first or second period, we’re starting desperate enough to win,” forward Jesper Bratt said. “I thought our puck battles and our puck play just [weren’t] good enough.”
Bratt leads the Devils with 81 points (20 goals, 61 assists). The winger recorded his 61st assist on Saturday, setting a new Devils single-season record for helpers.
Nico Hischier has seven points (four goals, three assists) during a six-game points streak.
Jacob Markstrom will likely play Monday, given the Devils’ recent trend of rotating goaltender starts. Jake Allen has been playing much better recently as Markstrom has struggled with an .833 save percentage over his last seven games.
The Devils recorded a 6-0 shutout in Vancouver on Oct. 30, continuing a decade-long run of dominance in the rivalry. New Jersey is 16-2-0 in its last 18 games against the Canucks, dating back to the 2014-15 season.
–Field Level Media
