The Canucks looked out of sync in the early going at Rogers Arena on Tuesday night against the New Jersey Devils in a fast paced affair. The Visitors took a 4-2 lead to the first intermission.
“Well, the first period obviously, we give them those four goals that shouldn’t go,” Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet said postgame. “They’re system plays, a little disappointing, we had guys, they were supposed to be in spots they just weren’t in. Now you’re chasing the game.”
Vancouver trailed 5-2 after two periods before storming back to tie the game 5-5 with three-and-a-half minutes to play.
The Canucks then gave up the winning goal to the Devils at the 19:26 mark of the 3rd period.
“Last goal, they (NJ) actually had four guys on the ice and I think maybe you could blame all five guys (VAN) on the ice for that pressure,” Tocchet said, “I still don’t understand where guys were going on that last play.”
Tocchet circled back to the first period.
“We gave them four goals,” he said. “You can’t have three guys in the corner on the first goal and leave the front of the net. That’s not our system and we’ve been slacking a little bit on that and we … it’s on us, it’s on my ass, I’ve gotta get these guys to do it more often.”
Ex-Canucks Coach
The game must have proved nerve-wracking but also satisfying for former Canucks head coach Travis Green, on the New Jersey bench as the Devils associate coach alongside head man Lindy Ruff.
It was the first time “Greener” had been in Rogers Arena since his final game as the Canucks bench boss in early December 2021. His firing, along with that of GM Jim Benning, led to the thirteen month tenure of head coach Bruce Boudreau and the introduction of the current management group.
Hughes Battle
Defenceman and team captain Quinn Hughes of the Canucks took on his younger brothers Jack and Luke of the Devils last night. Here’s the personal results.
D – Quinn – 26:41 on ice (led the team) – 2 assists, 4 shots-on-goal, Even.
C – Jack – 18:32 on ice – 1 goal, 2 assists, 6 shots-on-goal, Plus-1.
D – Luke – 16:11 on ice – 1 goal (PP), 1 shot-on-goal, Even.
Parents Jim and Ellen Hughes were in attendance.
Homestand
With an impressive record of 16-9-and-1, the Canucks continue their homestand against the Minnesota Wild on Thursday night. Games against the Carolina Hurricanes, Tampa Bay Lightning and Florida Panthers follow.
ICYMI:
— Zadorov Assists On GWG As Canucks Hold Off Flames 4-3
