VANCOUVER – In a game that swung from a blowout to a nail-biter, the New Jersey Devils managed to escape Rogers Arena with a 5-4 victory on Friday night. Led by a standout performance from Cody Glass and a milestone night for rookie Lenni Hämeenaho, the Devils successfully extended their dominance on their Western Canada road swing.
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New Jersey wasted no time setting the tone. Just 1:41 into the opening frame, 21-year-old Lenni Hämeenaho silenced the home crowd by burying his first career NHL goal. By the early stages of the second period, the Devils had ballooned their lead to 3-0 thanks to a power-play marker from captain Nico Hischier and the first of two goals for Cody Glass.
Canucks Fight Back
Vancouver, fueled by the return of Teddy Blueger from a long-term injury, refused to fold. Blueger ignited the comeback with a shorthanded goal that brought the arena back to life. The second period became a track meet, with the teams combining for six goals. While Vancouver’s Zeev Buium and Linus Karlsson found the back of the net, the Canucks were ultimately sunk by their own special teams, failing to convert on any of their power-play opportunities.
Holding the Line
Glass notched his second goal of the night in the third period, which proved to be the insurance New Jersey desperately needed. Despite a late 6-on-5 goal from Vancouver’s Brock Boeser with just 72 seconds remaining, veteran goaltender Jacob Markstrom stood tall against his former team, stopping 21 shots to lock down the win.
Stat of the Night: The Devils improved to a perfect 18-0-0 this season when leading after 40 minutes of play.
Looking Ahead
- New Jersey: Heads to Seattle on Sunday looking for a perfect 4-0 road trip.
- Vancouver: Remains at home to face the Pittsburgh Penguins, searching for answers to a power play that has gone cold over the last four games.
