Devils beat Canucks 4-1 in a landmark game for Jake Allen, with multi-point nights for Hischier and Bratt

The New Jersey Devils handed the Vancouver Canucks a 4-1 defeat on Oct. 10, controlling the game after the opening exchanges and completing the kind of balanced evening that can define a team’s identity early in the season. The headline moment came from goaltender Jake Allen, who earned a win in his 500th NHL game, a rare personal milestone for a player who has spent much of his career as a reliable option behind the scenes and on the biggest nights.

New Jersey’s start included several strong shifts, but the Canucks scored first after a sequence that swung the momentum. Vancouver used a quick release from the high slot area near the middle of the penalty kill, and the play developed while Dougie Hamilton was working in front of Allen to create disruption. The goal gave the Canucks a 1-0 advantage, but it did not last long enough to change the direction of the contest.

The Devils responded with their special teams and their ability to manage short stretches of instability. The story on the Canucks side included a penalty drawn for Anthony Mantha, who went to the box for hooking in the neutral zone about four and a half minutes into play. On that penalty kill, Cody Glass won the first draw and helped set up the Devils to clear the puck, keeping Vancouver from converting the early advantage into sustained pressure.

As the game continued, New Jersey found more consistent offensive rhythm. The evening belonged to the Devils’ core forward group, with Nico Hischier and Jack Hughes each collecting multi-point contributions and Jesper Bratt adding a multi-point performance as well. Together, the trio’s production helped New Jersey turn its early-game steadiness into a full-game push, shifting Vancouver from chasing answers to defending against a more organized Devils forecheck and transition attack.

The final margin reflects a second period and late-game management theme that often separates teams in early-season matchups: once the Devils gained control of tempo, they limited Vancouver’s ability to create repeat scoring chances. With Allen in goal, New Jersey’s focus could tighten around shot quality and clearing responsibilities, allowing the Devils to protect leads and add insurance as the game moved toward its finish.

For the Canucks, the loss was a reminder that early leads can be fragile if penalties and possession battles swing back quickly. For New Jersey, the win offers a clean performance baseline, anchored by Allen’s milestone and powered by the kind of production that suggests the Devils’ top group can drive games even when the opening score does not go their way. The next test will be whether they can sustain this level of discipline and pressure across the rest of the week as they return to regular pacing against other playoff-caliber opponents.