Devils 7, Canucks 2: The offense continues to hum

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A few notes following New Jersey’s impressive 7-2 victory over the Vancouver Canucks:

Nico Hischier’s line was dominant

Jack Hughes and his linemates made plenty of flashy – and productive! – plays throughout the game; but it was the Captain’s line that was most effective.

They were downright dominant at both ends of the ice. Nico was hounding puck carriers through the neutral zone and inside his own third. Pavel Zacha and Jesper Bratt were very quick to pounce on any sloppy pass, or loose puck, and get things started the other way in transition.

I thought they were absolutely lethal in that aspect of the game, especially. It felt like every shift that line turned a defensive possession into a 2-on-1 the other way.

Nico, Zacha, and Bratt were only on the ice for one 5v5 goal but it easily could’ve been two or three. Hischier ripped one off the pipe while Zacha had at least three great looks at net from Grade A areas of the ice.

They finished with an xG of nearly 70%, which is nothing new for the trio. They work remarkably well together.