Dakota Joshua had a goal and an assist, Quinn Hughes had three assists and Boeser had two assists for the Canucks (25-11-3), who are 9-2-2 in their last 13 games. Thatcher Demko made 21 saves for his 100th NHL win.
Vancouver led 5-2 early in the third period, but New Jersey pulled within 5-4 with 7:06 left.
“I really liked the game today,” Miller said. “I think this is a classic case of us being a little too back on the lead, and there’s a lot of talent over there, so they’re going to make plays. You have to find a way to find a happy medium of being in a structure that doesn’t give you much time and space.”
For the Devils (21 wins, 15 losses, 2 draws), who are on a two-game winning streak, Colin Miller scored two points and Eric Haula had one goal and one assist. Brendan Smith had two assists and Nico Dawes had 36 saves.
New Jersey played without top-line center Jack Hughes, who suffered an upper-body injury late in Friday’s 4-2 win over the Chicago Blackhawks.
“When you’re a little short-handed, you have to find another way,” Devils coach Lindy Ruff said. “But in the second half, they did everything they could to get back into the hockey game. That’s really all you can ask for.”
Vancouver defeated New Jersey 17-5 in the first period, and Pettersson scored 41 seconds into the second period by deflecting Filip Hronek’s point shot over Dawes’ blocker to give the Canucks a 1-0 lead. Gave.
“Their energy at the start of the game was unbelievable,” Ruff said. “We didn’t win enough battles.”
JT Miller kept the pressure on in the Devil’s end before getting a rebound to make it 2-0 at 3:33. Hronek’s slap shot broke defenseman Jonas Siegenthaler’s left leg, ending the play and the game.
“Jonas is not okay,” Ruff said. “Jonas broke his leg on that shot, so he will be out.”
Miller scored again to make it 3-0 at 4:37, rushing off a cross-ice pass from Pettersson for a one-timer from the right faceoff dot and over Dawes’ glove.
“We’re just playing hockey,” Pettersson said when asked about rediscovering chemistry with Boeser and Miller. “Obviously, we played a lot back in the day, so we just try to work hard, make plays and trust each other.”
