NEWARK, NJ — Vitek Vanecek made 24 saves for the New Jersey Devils in a 3-0 win against the Chicago Blackhawks at Prudential Center on Tuesday.
Vanecek’s shutout was his second this season and eighth in the NHL. He is 12-1-1 in his past 15 games.
“The defense played really well, so I was just trying to help them all the time,” Vanecek said. “It’s nice to get the shutout, but the win is always bigger.”
Dougie Hamilton had a goal and two assists, and Jack Hughes had two assists for the Devils (21-4-1), who are 18-1-1 in their past 20 games.
“[Vanecek] really sets the bar, gives so much confidence and energy to the group, and we want to make sure he has a night like this every night,” New Jersey forward Jesper Bratt said.
Video: CHI@NJD: Vanecek posts 2nd shutout of the season
Arvid Soderblom made 26 saves in his second straight start for the Blackhawks (7-14-4), who are 1-9-1 in their past 11 games.
“It wasn’t like we didn’t get our looks,” the Chicago defenseman Jack Johnson said. “We’ve just got to bear down and score, keep shooting. We missed the net a couple of times, and you can’t score behind the net. We’ve just got to capitalize on our chances.”
Chicago was shut out for the second straight game after losing 3-0 at the New York Islanders on Sunday.
“We’re just not getting any puck luck, but it goes like that,” Blackhawks coach Luke Richardson said. “I think you have to create your own. You have to just bear down on a few of those chances and try and create a little bit more offensive zone time.”
Hamilton gave the Devils a 1-0 lead at 11:27 of the first period on a shot from the left face-off circle. Hughes crossed the blue line in the middle of the zone and dangled through three Chicago defenders before passing to Hamilton.
“[Hamilton] had a really good night. He scored one and could’ve had a couple more in the first period,” New Jersey coach Lindy Ruff said. “He made it really tough on Chicago on their coverage. But again, when we do that, and if we make a bad play, all of a sudden the puck is going the other way. But part of that is our game, part of that was trying to create confusion. But I really liked Doug’s game. He’s been solid all year long.”
Video: CHI@NJD: Hamilton caps off Hughes’ brilliant play
Vanecek made 13 saves in the first, including stopping Patrick Kane’s snap shot from the slot at 15:40, and Max Domi from the bottom of the left circle at 16:02.
“I’m not trying to look at the players and wonder who is coming at me or who is shooting,” Vanecek said. “If I do that, I think I will think too much about it and that’s not going to be good. Kane is a really good player and he’s got skills. I’m just happy I can make all the stops.”
Nico Hischier extended the lead to 2-0 at 5:30 of the second period on a slap shot from the top of the right circle. The goal came shortly after Soderblom lost his stick behind the net following a save on Hischier on a 2-on-1.
Bratt scored a power-play goal on a one-timer from the bottom of the right circle at 14:58 of the second for the 3-0 final.
Hughes, who had the primary assist on the play, has 10 points (six goals, four assists) on a six-game point streak.
“It’s a lot of fun to watch him play,” Ruff said. “He has a lot of fun playing out there. I love his competition. There are some details we have to continue to work on, but when he gets the puck, there’s a lot of great things happening. He’s tough to track down.
“It was a real good night for Jack and where he’s got his game, but we just want to continue to see it grow.”
NOTES: The Devils have allowed one goal or fewer nine times this season, one more than in 2021-22. … Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews did not play because of a non-COVID illness. …Forward Lukas Reichel, who was recalled from Rockford of the American Hockey League earlier Tuesday, played 13:58 in his season debut for the Blackhawks. … New Jersey has a plus-19 goal differential in the second period this season. … Hamilton’s three-point game was his first since Dec. 17, 2019, when he played for the Carolina Hurricanes. … New Jersey is 18-0-1 when Hischier has a point.
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