Canucks Face Devils Without Jack Hughes in Crucial Matchup

NEWARK, N.J. — The Vancouver Canucks will hit the ice against the New Jersey Devils tonight at 7:30 p.m. EST at Prudential Center, but they will be missing a key component from the opposing team. Star forward Jack Hughes is sidelined following shoulder surgery, presenting an opportunity for the Canucks to capitalize on the Devils’ vulnerabilities.

The stakes are high as both teams are in tight playoff races. The Devils (37-28-6) currently hold a two-point lead over the Canucks (32-26-12) in the chase for postseason spots, with the Canucks three points behind St. Louis for the final Wild Card position. According to Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet, every matchup from now on is critical for his team.

“We need to focus on every game like it’s our last if we want to secure a playoff spot,” Tocchet said. “Tonight’s game presents us a chance to prove that we’re a serious contender.”

Vancouver enters the contest on a two-game road losing streak, while New Jersey looks to snap its own two-game home losing streak. The Canucks have struggled recently, going 5-4-1 in their last ten games, while the Devils are 4-6-0 during the same stretch.

Injuries plague both sides. Vancouver will be without forwards Filip Chytil and Nils Hoglander, who are not expected to return any time soon. In contrast, New Jersey welcomes back Ondrej Palat, who missed two games due to a lower-body injury.

Vancouver’s lineup features Jake DeBrusk, Pius Suter, and Brock Boeser on the first line. Their second line will include Jonathan Lekkerimaki centering Teddy Bleuger and Conor Garland, while Drew O’Connor, Nils Aman, and Kiefer Sherwood fill out the third line. Forward Aatu Raty has been recalled from Abbotsford and is set to play tonight.

The Devils will lean on Erik Haula, Nico Hischier, and Timo Meier to lead their offense. Hischier is having a productive season, recently achieving a career milestone with over 30 goals. He aims to build on a productive performance from the previous meeting against Vancouver, where he contributed a goal and two assists.

In their last matchup on October 30, the Devils dominated the Canucks with a 6-0 win, with that game featuring stellar goaltending from Jacob Markstrom. The Devils will look for a repeat performance and aim to maintain their upper hand in the series.

The Canucks will rely on Thatcher Demko, activated from the injured reserve list, hoping to showcase his abilities after being sidelined since early February. “Having Demko back feels like a boost for our team,” DeBrusk noted. “We need solid goaltending, especially with the pressure we’re under.”

The matchup promises excitement as both teams vie for the crucial two points in the standings. With playoff implications on the line, the tension at Prudential Center is sure to be palpable.