Hughes gets first NHL goal for Devils in shutout against Canucks

NEWARK, N.J. -- Jack Hughes scored his first NHL goal, and Mackenzie Blackwood made 25 saves for the New Jersey Devils in a 1-0 win against the Vancouver Canucks at Prudential Center on Saturday.

Hughes, the No. 1 pick in the 2019 NHL Draft, was playing against brother Quinn Hughes for the first time in the NHL. The 18-year-old center scored a power-play goal with a wrist shot from the right face-off circle 14:08 into the first period after taking a pass from Taylor Hall.
"It was awesome; such a thrill to score an NHL goal," Hughes said. "When you see it go in, you just start screaming a bunch of random stuff. It's a little overdue, but it's good to get on the board. I mean, all the emotions that go with it. ... (Devils forward) Wayne Simmonds said it best to me on the bench, 'There's nothing else like it.' It's an unreal feeling, and hopefully I can get a few more."
WATCH: [All Canucks vs. Devils highlights]
Jack Hughes (18 years, 158 days) became the second-youngest player in Devils history to score his first NHL goal (Craig Wolanin: 18 years, 135 days in 1985-86).
There were an estimated 75 members of the Hughes family in attendance. Jack had one shot and went 4-for-12 on face-offs in 13:50 of ice time.

"It was funny looking over [at Quinn], but at the same time you're so dialed in and this is a tough league too," Jack Hughes said. "Vancouver is a really good team, so you got to be on your 'A' game. It was good to get the win against him and a lot of fun to play against him."
Quinn Hughes, a 20-year-old defenseman selected with the No. 7 pick in the 2018 NHL Draft, had one blocked shot in 22:16 for the Canucks (4-3-0). Vancouver, which went 0-for-6 on the power play, had its four-game winning streak end.
"If we're going to lose 1-0, I'm happy he did it, but at the same time, I'm not happy we lost," Quinn said. "I'm happy for him, but I'm here to do a job. There's a lot of brotherly love, obviously, and I'm going to congratulate him and stuff, but I wish we were winning 1-0."
Blackwood earned his first shutout of the season and third in the NHL for the Devils (2-4-2), who have won two straight. Blackwood made 14 saves in the second period, including a right-pad save on a breakaway by Alexander Edler 12:56 into the second period.

New Jersey had 23 blocked shots.
"We talked about the brotherhood during training camp, and when you have a guy step in there and sacrifice his body for another player, it's huge," Blackwood said. "There's really no other way to put that feeling other than to experience and be a part of it. When you have a teammate step in there and sell out his body for another guy on the team, that's just selflessness and just shows you how committed we are for each other."
Canucks center Elias Pettersson, who had two shots on goal in 20:09, had his four-game point streak end (two goals, four assists).
"He had nine shots entering the game, so he's got to get more shots than that, and he missed the net I think six times, but they blocked a lot of shots," Vancouver coach Travis Green. "But it's no secret you have to get pucks to the paint and you have to be around the paint to score."

They said it

"Honestly, I think [that type of goal] is something new in his arsenal because usually he comes down and just rips a wrister." -- Canucks defenseman Quinn Hughes on brother Jack Hughes' first NHL goal for the Devils
"I guess we're clicking a little bit more and finishing games a little bit better, focusing in on that. But other than that, our special teams are winning the games now. Our power play is starting to score, and penalty kill is doing well." -- Devils center Jack Hughes

Need to know

Goalie Jacob Markstrom is expected to make his first start in four games when the Canucks play the New York Rangers on Sunday. ... Canucks forward J.T. Miller had three shots on goal and three hits, and went 7-for-10 on face-offs in 22:21. ... Vancouver forward Bo Horvat had three shots on goal and went 19-for-25 on face-offs in 23:45. ... Devils defenseman Andy Greene had a game-high five blocked shots in 21:33 in his return to the lineup after missing the past four games with an upper-body injury. ... Simmonds had six shots on goal and two hits in 15:50. ... Devils defenseman Will Butcher (upper body) was placed on injured reserve Saturday.

What's next

Canucks: At the New York Rangers on Sunday (1 p.m. ET; SN, MSG, NHL.TV)
Devils: Host the Arizona Coyotes on Friday (7 p.m. ET; MSG+, FS-A PLUS, NHL.TV)