Devils score seven, chase Halak in win against Canucks

NEWARK, N.J. -- Jack Hughes had a goal and an assist for the New Jersey Devils in a 7-2 win against the Vancouver Canucks at Prudential Center on Monday.

He has three points (two goals, one assist) in three NHL games, all wins, against his brother, Quinn Hughes, and the Canucks. He scored his first NHL goal in a 1-0 win on Oct. 19, 2019, and then helped New Jersey win 2-1 on Nov. 10, 2019.
"He's the type of player who's basically ready to go on the ice every second shift," New Jersey coach Lindy Ruff said. "And that's one heck of an attribute for a player."

Nico Daws made 36 saves for New Jersey (19-29-5), which has scored 18 goals in its past three games.
"It makes it a lot easier when we score that many goals," Daws said. "I think we get up that early, I got to make sure that the next one doesn't go in. I can't let the tide change."
J.T. Miller had an assist to extend his point streak to seven games (four goals, 10 assists) for the Canucks (26-23-6), who had won three straight and five of six. Thatcher Demko made 18 saves in 33:41 in relief of Jaroslav Halak (eight saves on 14 shots).
"The speed they had ... they were coming at us pretty good," Vancouver coach Bruce Boudreau said. "We weren't adjusting to it."
Hughes made it 1-0 at 9:15 of the first period when he skated into the right face-off circle and scored on a wrist shot.
The line of Yegor Sharangovich, Hughes and Dawson Mercer combined for three goals, three assists and six shots.
"We've found a little momentum with the lines we've been using, and guys are feeding off each other," Ruff said. "Our ability to finish on our real good chances has been better. I think we're finishing more of our better opportunities and that's been a difference."

Sharangovich scored for a 2-0 lead at 15:24 before Mercer extended it to 3-0 at 17:44 with a power-play goal.
Vasily Podkolzin pulled Vancouver to within 3-1 at 1:36 of the second period, scoring on a deflection.
"We weren't ready to go," Canucks forward Conor Garland said. "With how fast they play, we didn't match it at all. It's unacceptable. We have to play the right way to win. When you're chasing games, it's not a recipe for success in the NHL."
Jesper Boqvist made it 4-1 at 3:08 on a backhand.
"[The Hughes line] is showing us the way and we just got to keep up," Boqvist said. "This kid is having fun for sure."
Ryan Graves scored for a 5-1 lead at 5:07 of the second on a shot from the left point that deflected off Luke Schenn in the slot.
Demko replaced Halak after Jesper Bratt made it 6-1 at 6:19.

Tanner Pearson made it 6-2 at 8:14 for the Canucks, who won 5-2 at the New York Rangers on Sunday.
"I don't get the whole back-to-back thing, why it's tiring," Boudreau said. "That excuse goes out the window."
Dougie Hamilton scored his first goal since Dec. 29 at 11:42 of the third period for the 7-2 final. It was his third game back after missing two months with a broken jaw.
"I think his game is coming," Ruff said of Hamilton. "Being on top of the play, joining offensively, playing to what is his strength; I thought that part of his game was noticeably better than his first game [back]."
Hughes (20 years, 290 days) has scored 13 points (five goals, eight assists) in a seven-game point streak while extending his multipoint streak to four games (three goals, seven assists). The only active players to have longer runs at age 20 or younger are Patrik Laine (five games, 2017-18) and Steven Stamkos (five games, 2009-10).
"He's got himself in a nice little run," Ruff said. "He's really skating well. He just continues to grow. There's plays inside the game that really only he can make because he's so explosive."
NOTES:The Devils have won 12 straight games against the Canucks; their last loss (2-0) came Nov. 25, 2014. … Vancouver played its 4,000th regular-season game since entering the NHL in 1970-71 (1,675-1,769-165; 391 ties). ... The Canucks are 18-8-4 in 30 games since Boudreau replaced Travis Green as coach on Dec. 7. ... Sharangovich extended his goal streak to four games and his point streak to seven games (five goals, six assists).