Key takeaways from Devils 2-0 win over Canucks

Jim Cerny

•
Key takeaways from Devils 2-0 win over Canucks image

When the NHL released its 2017-18 season schedule some four months ago, likely not many raced to the calendar to find out when the Vancouver Canucks and New Jersey Devils were going to face one another.

After dismal finishes a year ago -- the Canucks were second worst in the Western Conference with 69 points, and the Devils last in the East with 70 points -- these upstarts are among the biggest surprises in the first month of the season, making Wednesday's head-to-head meeting an intriguing one.

Ultimately, the Devils skated to a 2-0 victory, their ninth win in 11 games, so far this season. They are a perfect 5-0-0 on the road, and sit atop the Metropolitan Division with 18 points.

NHL Power Rankings: Devils crack Top 5, Canucks moving on up, too

Despite the loss, the Canucks are a respectable 6-4-2, and they just collected points in five consecutive games (4-0-1) before the shutout loss to New Jersey.

Here are several key takeaways from Wednesday's clash between the Canucks and Devils

Canucks were good, Cory Schneider was better

There were large swaths of this game that the Canucks owned the puck in the offensive zone. They attempted 80 shots, compared to only 42 by the Devils, and outshot the visitors 37-26. Yet they still lost.

Devils goaltender Cory Schneider was the major reason why this game ended in the Devils' favor. Schneider was economical in his movements, seemingly in perfect position to swallow up the majority of the shots he faced. He didn't look to be making one outstanding save after another because his positioning was so sound, though he did have a few gems, including the clutch save made on Derrick Pouliot in the game's final minute.

 

It was Schneider's best performance of the season, and improved his all-time mark against his former team to 5-1-2 with a sub 2.00 goals against average in eight starts since being traded to New Jersey before the 2013-14 season.

He had help, though, as the Devils blocked 21 shots -- four by team captain Andy Greene. The Devils also did a real good job of clogging the shooting lanes, with Vancouver missing the net on 22 other shot attempts.

Though shut out, the Canucks did a lot of good things. This is not a loss to feel badly about. Everyone was involved, with 16 of the 18 skaters that dressed recording at least one shot on goal, eight of which had three or more. Plus there was an early shot off iron that could very well have altered the course of this game.

Brian Boyle returns

Not only did Brian Boyle make his Devils debut after a preseason diagnosis of Chronic Myeloid Leukemia -- for which he still takes medication twice a day, but he logged more than 15 minutes, won six of nine faceoffs, blocked a couple of shots and played a big role in the victory.

You'd be hard-pressed to find anybody -- and that includes those in the losing dressing room, as well -- with anything bad to say about Boyle's return, a real feel-good story for one of the game's more popular and respected players.

 

 

Always an honest, introspective, down-to-earth interview, Boyle had this to say about being able to play the game he loves once again.

"I’m so blessed to be able to do this," offered Boyle. "We all are. If you’re looking at the big picture and you turn on the news and look and your own situation with what you get to do, it’s remarkable. I’m so thankful for that and I’ve never lost sight of that.”

Canucks lose power in power play

While they generated so much momentum off a strong even-strength forecheck, leading to a vast disparity in shot attempts, the Canucks failed to create similar momentum and scoring chances while on the power play Wednesday. The Canucks were 0-for-4 on the man advantage and managed only six shots on goal. Trailing 1-0, they had a pair of third-period power plays in which they failed to produce the equalizer. 

 

 

It was the sixth time in 12 games the Canucks failed to score a power play goal, a mixed bag of results for a team now ranked 22nd in the league at just 14.8 percent. Two games ago, against the Capitals, Vancouver's sagging power play connected a season-high three times to boost the overall numbers. The Canucks only goal in Monday's overtime loss to the Stars came on the power play as the man-up unit showed signs of life.

That crashed to back to reality Wednesday night.

Devils depth tested some more

The Devils raced to the best start in franchise history this season on the strength of receiving contributions up and down their lineup, especially with veterans Travis Zajac and Boyle sidelined.

They were further tested Wednesday when -- already playing without the injured Kyle Palmieri, their top goal scorer the past two seasons -- Marcus Johansson went head first into the boards on his first shift of the game, left the ice and did not return. The Devils call it an "upper body injury", but, boy, this has the looks of a concussion. If so, the Devils are without two of their best forwards while in the middle of a three-game road trip, as Palmieri remains back home nursing a foot injury.

 

 

Speaking to how everyone chips in up and down their lineup, three players not expected to make the opening-night roster -- Blake Coleman, Brian Gibbons and Jesper Bratt -- picked up a lot of the slack with Johansson out. Coleman played 17:11, was a +2 and won 12 of 17 faceoffs. Gibbons, the minor league journeyman who leads the Devils with five goals, played 18:39 of gritty hockey. And the 19-year-old Bratt, who has ten points in 11 games, led the team with five shots and played more than 17 minutes.

Veteran newcomers Jimmy Hayes and Drew Stafford (empty net) scored the goals and Taylor Hall assisted on each giving him a team-best 15 points, including 11 in the past six games.

Calling Henrik Sedin

And so it goes for the 37-year-old Henrik Sedin. Another game without a goal, and this time not even a shot on goal, which was tough to do considering 16 of his teammates recorded at least one while peppering Cory Schneider with 37 overall. Taking it a step further, Henrik attempted only one shot -- it went down as a missed shot -- in a game where the Canucks totaled 80 attempts.

MORE: Sorting out the contenders, pretenders one month into NHL season

In 12 games, the long-time stalwart has yet to score a goal and managed only three assists.

Even with Travis Green transitioning the Canucks away from their heavy reliance on the Sedin twins, he and the club still need some production from Henrik and Daniel (2-3-5), especially when considering their continued importance on the struggling power play.

Jim Cerny