Power-play problems overshadow Hughes showdown

NEWARK, N.J. Jack 1, Quinn 0.

In terms of an intense yet supportive sibling rivalry and brief bragging nights, that goal total mattered to the Hughes brothers on some level in a Saturday matinee marquee matchup of firstround draft choices.

However, what really mattered to Quinn and the Vancouver Canucks was carrying the momentum from an impressive comeback shootout victory Thursday in St. Louis over the Stanley Cup champions that opened this four-game trip.

To push the win streak to five games, it was going to take more than the Hughes duo matching wits for the first time on an NHL ice surface.

It was going to take something special in a building where the Canucks always struggle to score.

Here’s what we learned as the Canucks fell 1-0:

POWER-PLAY DRAMA

Jack Hughes plays on the first power-play unit. Quinn Hughes plays on the second and got firstunit looks. That is going to ignite the embers of The Great Quinn Debate into a raging fire.

The Canucks went 0-for-6 on the power play with Hughes logging a total of 6:51 on the two units and Alex Edler playing 5:05.

The smoke started to build early when the first unit anchored by Edler logged 1:39 on the initial man-advantage. There were two good looks for Elias Pettersson. And, early in the second period, Edler logged another 1:22 on PP1.

As Hughes got more quarterback time with PP1, the tempo seemed different and there were two good chances in the middle frame with him directing traffic.

“We had some looks, but we’ve got to get some goals,” said coach Travis Green.

Hughes is diplomatic and respectful when the PP1 talks surfaces. But his game is obvious.

“We kind of struggled with the breakouts a bit,” he said. “A couple of chances on the second that could have easily gone our way.”

As for playing against his brother, it was a mixed bag of excitement and a hard loss to swallow.

“As fun as it is, it’s also a weird dynamic,” he said.

“I’m happy to get to do it another time and I’m happy for him. I want to see him have success, but not too much against us.”

DEMKO DELIVERS

Another solid showing by Thatcher Demko to keep the Canucks within striking distance is going to have a ripple effect. He’s now an option on any night. He had no chance on Hughes’ perfectly placed PP goal that came off a crossice power play feed by Taylor Hall.

ALMOST A HERO

When the blueliner exited the penalty box in the second period after being assessed a minor penalty for an illegal check to the head of Blake Coleman, he had a chance on a breakaway to redeem himself and draw the Canucks even. He forced Mackenzie Blackwood to make a pad save and then put the sharp-angle rebound through the crease.