Devils Postgame

Devils Crumble to Canucks in Shootout; Kovacevic Undisciplined; Markstrom Livid

Published

4 weeks ago

March 24, 2025

NEWARK—Tensions among the New Jersey Devils were high on Monday after Saturday night’s loss to the Ottawa Senators. Hosting Quinn Hughes and the Vancouver Canucks, the Devils’ head coach wanted to see a stronger team, specifically Johnathan Kovacevic who was targeted in Sheldon Keefe’s postgame press conference over the weekend.

In lieu of Sheldon Keefe‘s dismay, the Devils defenseman responded with three crucial minor penalties. However, the Canucks fell short of taking advantage of Kovacevic’s lack of discipline, leaving the door open for the Devils to take two points off the table.

Yet they stumbled.

The flow to start contest couldn’t encapsulate the persona of Monday any better. Both the Devils and Canucks could take control of the play, and each often iced the puck in a start and stop first 10 minutes.

Both sides struggled to create momentum, however, traded minimal chances before the game’s first goal.

Said goal went to Vancouver after Pius Suter was left alone in the slot, and converted on a pass by Marcus Pettersson to give the Canucks a 1-0 lead.

Despite an even scoring chance differential after the opening 20 minutes, the Canucks certainly had more significant chances in the first frame, registering four high-danger opportunities. Jacob Markstrom, however, was strong enough to send the game into the first intermission with the difference remaining one goal.

The Devils have been a strong second-period team all season, however, were a bit flat at even strength to start the second period. Vancouver rang up New Jersey for nine scoring chances through the first half of the middle frame, as opposed to their two.

Yet, Teddy Blueger took a tripping minor, sending the Devils to their second power play of the game. On the man advantage, Dawson Mercer found Timo Meier back door, and the Swiss forward tied the game at one goal each.

Jesper Bratt picked up the secondary assist on the play, increasing his single season assist record to 62 assists.

The Canucks pushed to score with under a minute remaining in the second period. A shot by Tyler Myers from the high slot nearly beat Markstrom for a goal. However, a bit of luck saw the rubber hit the crossbar and stay out of the Devils’ net, and the game went into the third period knotted at one.

It was a low-event third period between the Devils and Canucks. Both sides missing key players, each team resorted to strong defense and goaltending to keep the tilt close. That was until the midway point through the final frame.

The Devils went to a third period penalty kill after Johnathan Kovacevic took a high-sticking infraction on Kiefer Sherwood. However, the Devils killed the penalty and rode the wave of momentum.

At 11:02 of the third period, Meier scooped up a loose puck off that bounced off the end-board as the result of a missed shot by Brenden Dillon. With Thatcher Demko out of position, Meier scored his second goal of the game to give the Devils a 2-1 lead.

Yet, just 45 seconds later, Jonathan Lekkerimaki restored the tie game.

The Canucks’ lead didn’t last very long. Erik Haula found a loose puck at the top of Demko’s crease and pushed it across the goal-line to regain the Devils’ lead, 3-2.

The Canucks pulled Demko with just under two minutes to go in regulation, and the extra attacker paid off.

Brett Pesce had a chance to clear the puck from the offensive zone. He flubbed on the attempt and the Canucks took control. With sustained pressure at 6-on-5 in the Devils’ end of the ice, Q. Hughes’ point shot hit the post, and Suter scored while Markstrom scrambled to find the puck in the crease, his second of the game.

Overtime wasn’t enough after the Devils and Canucks traded chances at three-on-three.

The shootout required four rounds. Despite Jesper Bratt converting, the Canucks scored twice and sent the Devils back to the locker room short a point.

On 27 shots, Markstrom made 24 saves. After allowing two goals in the shootout, the Devils goaltender slammed and broke his stick along the Devils goal and exited the ice.