Devils Fall 6-3 to Canucks | GAME STORY

VANCOUVER, BC -- The Devils fell behind early by a pair of goals but quickly tied it up. However, the Canucks pulled away and ultimately won 6-3 on the strength of two goals from Bo Horvat and three assists from J.T. Miller on Tuesday night.

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The Devils fly to Calgary immediately following teh game and play the Flames tonight. The game can be seen on MSG+ and heard on the Devils Hockey Network. Puck drop is 10:08 p.m. ET.
Early in the game, Pavel Zacha had a clear path to the net after taking a feed on a two-on-one. His backhand attempt was stopped by Canucks netminder Thatcher Demko. After the chance, Zacha slid awkwardly into the end boards. He skated slowly off the ice and went to the dressing room.
It was a second blow to the Devils after finding out following pre-game warm-ups that Jonas Siegenthaler would not be able to play.
"It changes the complexion a lot," Devils head coach Lindy Ruff said about not having Siegenthaler play. "He's going up against top lines, top goal scorers, big body and played extremely well. He's been one of our top defensemen all year long. Tried it in warm-up but non-COVID related illness. He couldn't fight through it.
"We probably spent more time in our end tonight than in the last 10 games."
With Zacha's injury, Ruff said it was also a big loss but being up front he saw that loss as more of an opportunity for others.
"It's an opportunity for other guys to play more. That happens inside of a game," Ruff said, adding that Zacha's injury is upper body making him very doubtful tomorrow in Calgary. "On defense it's a little bit more critical when you talk about a guy who played in our number two spot all year."
A minute after the Zacha injury, Vancouver struck to open the game's scoring. Brad Hunt ripped a shot from the side boards past Nico Daws to put Canucks up 1-0.
Midway through the first, Daws kicked out his left pad to deny J.T. Miller on a scoring chance at close range. Shots on goal just past the period's midway point was 8-4 for Vancouver.
The Canucks continued to put the pressure on. Nils Hoglander picked up a rebound in front and tapped it by Daws for the 2-0 lead.
Devils responded to the goal by starting to pick up some of the game's momentum. They rattled off the next five shots, eventually resulting in Ryan Graves' goal to make it a one-goal game late in the opening frame.
After one, shots on goal were 13-10 for the Canucks.
Daws continued to stymie the Canucks, and Miller in particular. He stretched out his right pad to deny Miller on a breakaway less than four minutes into the second period.

A minute later, Jack Hughes had a breakaway of his own and slid the puck five hole to tie the game up at 2-2. The goal was set up by an outstanding lob pass by Jesper Bratt that sprung Hughes in alone.
"We went into the second period with some good energy," said Bratt. "We wanted to bring positive energy."
Near the midway point of the second, Bo Horvat teed up a blast from the top of the left circle. Daws got a piece of it but the puck trickled over the line to put the Canucks back in front.
Seventeen seconds later, Vancouver struck again. Tanner Pearson redirected a slap pass from Tyler Myers into the open cage. The goal chased Daws from the game, replaced by Jon Gillies.
"A little bit of both," Ruff said on pulling Daws for team momentum versus the way he was playing. "And with the idea that there's a game tomorrow. Puck went through him on a couple of the goals."
Gillies made an impact early, denying Pearson on a chance in close. That gave the Devils some life and they went back down the ice to score and make it a one-goal game. Nathan Bastian muscled off a defender to backhand in a rebound from a shot by Yegor Sharangovich.
"We fought back well. Got a big save from Jon right away. We had opportunities to change the complexion of the game but you've got to give Demko credit, he made some big saves at critical times."
With two minutes to go in the second, Andreas Johnsson was clipped with a high stick by Tyler Motte. Johnsson had to be helped off the ice with the result being a double minor to Motte for high-sticking. It was the first power play of the night for either side.
Hischier wired a shot off the post 30 seconds into the man advantage in what was New Jersey's best chance.
"I thought we had real good looks the first two minutes of (the power play). Just didn't hit the mark. He made a couple saves. Maybe a little bit better around the net. The opportunities were there, we just didn't capitalize on them."
Shots on goal after two periods were 24-23 for the Canucks.
Less than two minutes into the final frame, Horvat ripped a shot from the high slot top corner past Gillies for a shorthanded goal to once again make it a two-goal spread at 5-3.
Devils' first penalty of the game came nine minutes into the third, Colton White for tripping but Devils were able to kill it off.
Vancouver did extend its lead to three goals with 7:50 to go in the period after Juho Lammikko redirected a shot to make it 6-3.
Final shot count in the game was 35-31 for the Devils.
"They're up there in the mix," Bratt said of the Canucks, who are now one point out of a playoff spot. "We knew how it went last game (with the Devils winning 7-2) and we knew they were going to come out hard, especially in their own building.
"Today, you've got to be honest with yourself and say they were better than us."