Jack Hughes had a memorable moment in his young career as he scored his first NHL goal, leading the New Jersey Devils to a 1-0 win over the Vancouver Canucks on Saturday. This game also marked the first NHL showdown between Jack and his older brother, Quinn Hughes.
Jack Hughes, 18, netted the game’s only goal in the first period during a power play, helping New Jersey secure its second consecutive victory after a rough start to the season. The game drew special attention, with around 80 family members and friends in attendance to witness the Hughes brothers’ first NHL matchup.
Mackenzie Blackwood was stellar in goal, making 25 saves to earn his third career shutout and keeping the Canucks at bay.
“I’ve felt good in every game,” said Hughes, who was this year’s draft’s No. 1 overall pick. “Each game has been a building block for me. I think it was a little overdue.”
The Devils took the lead at 14:08 of the first period when Taylor Hall, displaying excellent stickhandling, found Hughes with a cross-ice pass. Hughes capitalized by beating Canucks goalie Thatcher Demko, who finished with 23 saves.
“It’s such an awesome feeling,” Hughes said. “To come out here and play in front of my family and friends. It’s nice to be able to beat Quinn. We’ve played much better hockey in the two games we’ve won.”
Coming off a four-game winning streak, Vancouver couldn’t find a way past Blackwood, particularly in the second period when he made 14 saves, including several crucial stops during a frantic stretch of play.
“Everyone is out there playing for each other,” Blackwood said. “No one is being selfish. Everyone is out there doing their jobs. We feed off each other’s energy.”
New Jersey’s penalty kill was impressive, successfully stopping all six of Vancouver’s power plays. This strong defensive performance came after they had similarly neutralized the Rangers’ power plays in their previous game.
“The penalty kill is because of an attention to detail,” said Devils coach John Hynes. “We’ve been able to clear pucks from our zone. We’ve been able to maintain pressure up ice.”
Game notes:
- Nico Hischier missed his second straight game due to an upper-body injury, but he was at home for the first time since signing a $50.75 million, seven-year contract extension on Friday.
- The Devils activated defenseman, Andy Greene, from the injured list and placed Will Butcher on it due to an upper-body injury.
- Hughes scored his first NHL goal on Oct. 19, 2019, the same date Hischier scored his first NHL goal two years earlier in 2017.
- At 18 years and 158 days old, Hughes became the second-youngest player in Devils history to score his first NHL goal, behind Craig Wolanin.
- The Canucks wore their 50th anniversary jerseys, featuring the team’s original colors.
UP NEXT:
- Canucks: Visit the New York Rangers on Sunday.
- Devils: Host the Arizona Coyotes on Friday night.
