Canucks Thrive Following Quinn Hughes Trade

BELMONT PARK, NEW YORK. Vancouver has played three games since superstar Quinn Hughes was traded to Minnesota – and won them all.

Last night they completed a New York jackpot with a 4-1 victory against the Islanders on Long Island.

– Sometimes that’s what happens when a player of that caliber disappears and everyone no longer expects him to do everything, says defender Marcus Pettersson to Sportbladet.

There were notions that the table jumbo Canucks would collapse completely when, just over a week ago, the club management was forced to trade the team’s best player, Quinn Hughes, to rival Minnesota.

Instead, the opposite has occurred. They have taken full pot during a long stay in New York. They beat New Jersey 2-1 last Sunday, followed that up with a 3-0 triumph against the Rangers at Madison Square Garden and last night completed their NYC jackpot against the Islanders at UBS Arena.

The Swede with points

After just one period, they had built up a 3-0 lead and in the end they won 4-1 – leaving last place in the standings to Nashville and Seattle.

– Of course, it feels very good, especially considering what has happened recently, says veteran defender Marcus Pettersson when we meet him afterwards.

– Sometimes that’s what happens when a player of Quinn’s caliber disappears and everyone stops waiting for him to do everything. Others step forward and take responsibility and I think we played better as a team now.

Marcus answered for an assist in the night’s winning match, just like compatriot Tom Willander.

Elias Pettersson (the elder) is still injured and did not play against the Islanders, but may be able to make a comeback in next night’s away game against Boston – or in Philadelphia on Tuesday night.

The reigning champs from South Florida have truly started cooking with gas again.

Last night they picked up their fourth straight win – after rallying from a 0-3 deficit in the second half of the third period against strong Carolina. And it was the big names behind the turnaround. Brad Marchand accounted for the first reduction when the clock stood at 10:16, Sam Bennet for the second at 17:35 – and then Sam Reinhart equalized with 42 seconds left.

Then the triumph was completed after a penalty decision.

– I was grumpy when ten minutes remained. Then Marchand yelled “We can do this” in the booth and went out and scored. Then it felt like it eased up, says coach Paul Maurice with a satisfied smile.

With the victory, the initially unmotivated cats not only make it to the playoffs for the first time all season. They are hux flux second in the Atlantic table.

Leo Carlsson and the other Anaheim Ducks were taught a stinging lesson by Dallas when they returned home to the Honda Center after their long East Coast road trip.

The Texas stars – who only look stronger and stronger with each game – went on the knock and won by a whopping 8-3.

Värmlander Oskar Bäck started the slaughter with a goal in a numerical disadvantage already after two and a half minutes and then all the dams just burst.

Winnipeg put on one of its best efforts in a long time away to Colorado and it was about to yield at least a point. But no hare shoots close, as you know. The Avalanche withstood the visitors’ hard push at the end, winning 3-2 and extending their league lead.

Gustav Nyquist assisted on one of the Jets’ goals.