Alexander Edler’s shot from the point through traffic.Markstrom wasn’t as busy, but still needed to be sharp. With just 51 seconds left in the first period he slid across his net to block a shot by Scheifele on a Jets

NEWARK Aleksander Barkov Jersey , N.J. (AP) The New Jersey Devils are heading into the playoffs for the first time since 2012 and not surprisingly half the roster has never competed in a NHL postseason game.The newbies in the Cup chase include leading scorer Taylor Hall, No. 1 overall pick Nico Hischier, No. 1 goaltender Keith Kinkaid and probably nine of the 20 players expected to be in the starting lineup on Thursday night against the Lightning in the opening game of the first-round series.There are 13 players on the roster who have never played in a Stanley Cup playoff game.New Jersey also has its share of experienced players. Center Brian Boyle has played in 106 playoff games, going to the Finals with the Rangers. Defenseman Sami Vatanen went to the playoffs the past four seasons with Anaheim. Defenseman Ben Lovejoy won a Cup in Pittsburgh.Their advice to the kids has been to embrace the challenge, expect the hockey to be more intense and to enjoy the games.For the young players, most of them are just expecting hockey.”I don’t think you change anything,” forward Blake Coleman said. ”There is a reason teams make the playoffs and there is no reason to venture too far from anything. The only difference is you get a little more familiar with who you are playing.”Coleman said every player in the Devils’ locker room has participated in some type of playoff game throughout their careers, whether it be in juniors, or the minor leagues or even younger.”It’s fun,” said Coleman, who had 13 goals in his first full NHL season. ”It’s always going to be pressure games. It’s going to be no different than what we played in the last 15 when they were all must-win games down the stretch and we found ways to be successful.”Will Butcher, who set a team rookie record for a defenseman with 44 points Evgenii Dadonov Jersey Kids , said being a part of a playoff team is fun. He enjoyed practice on Wednesday when the Devils opened the workout to fans.”I am not going to expect different,” Butcher said. ”It might be, but for me this is just a hockey game. You go out, you prepare, you play and do all the things you have done all season long and be ready to go. That’s our mindset as a team. We’re going into play another hockey game.”Butcher said his approach to the series is viewing each game as a one-game series. First to four advances.Veteran goaltender Cory Schneider, who played in three series with the Canucks before being traded to New Jersey in a draft-day deal in 2013, said the intensity is higher in playoff games.”It seems like every single play matters and it does,” Schneider said. ”You also have to keep perspective that no matter what happens whether you win a game or lose one, it’s on to the next one. You can’t get caught up in the mood swings.”Defenseman Mirco Mueller was around the playoffs with the San Jose Sharks, but never got into a game.”I have seen the intensity and the level it is played at, so that might help a little,” said Mueller http://www.officialhockeypanthersshop.com/authentic-adidas-james-reimer-jersey , who moved into the starting lineup in the past month. ”It will be new and there is a lot of noise around it, the first round starting. I guess it will just be hockey once it starts, with a lot more at stake.”Hischier can’t wait for the playoffs. The 19-year-old Swiss center who had 20 goals and 52 points in his rookie season, said the Devils can play with anyone if they play their game.”We’re hungry for more right now,” he said. ”It’s fun to be in there (the playoffs), but now we want more.”— VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) — Laurent Brossoit’s first career shutout happened in the right building.Brossoit stopped 40 shots at Rogers Arena and Mark Scheifele scored with 1:32 left in the third period as the Jets defeated the Vancouver Canucks 1-0 Saturday night.“This is one of those games I don’t think I will forget,” said Brossoit, who was born in Port Alberni, British Columbia, and grew up in Surrey, on the boarder of Vancouver. “To have that many shots and have the game go the way it did Youth Jamie McGinn Jersey , and have my first shutout here in the building I grew up in, it was definitely a special moment.”The Canucks pulled their goalie in the final minute and mounted a frantic attack. Brossoit faced a barrage of shots.“You never want that kind of chaos but, at the end of the game, for it to go our way, the chaos is fine,” he said.Brossoit improved his record this year to 8-1-1. He has 38 NHL games split between Winnipeg and Edmonton. The game against Vancouver — his first start against the Canucks — was his fourth start this month.“It’s the most consistent amount of starts I’ve gotten in my NHL career,” said the 25-year-old, who had 25 family and friends at the game. “I appreciate the vote of confidence to have me in consistently. It’s easier to prepare.”Head coach Paul Maurice offered some humor while praising Brossoit, who joined Winnipeg this year as a free agent.“Our goalie was our best player,” said Maurice. “He’s earned every start that he’s got.“He just hasn’t given us a reason ever not to start him. As good as he is in the games, he’s equally good in practice, pushing to get better all the time. If he was on a longer term deal I’d talk more nice things about him Womens Jared McCann Jersey , but we’ve got to sign him again this year so he’s just all right.”Scheifele scored his 22nd of the season from the left face-off dot on a give-and-go play with defenseman Dustin Byfuglien.The Jets have won 11 of their last 13 games. The victory was Winnipeg’s eighth straight victory over the Canucks.The Canucks lost in regulation for just the second time in nine games (6-2-1).“It’s been a couple of games we’ve lost like that,” said forward Antoine Roussel. “It’s frustrating.“You have to come up on top and learn from those games sometimes. You can’t be losing in the last two minutes of a game. We battle all the way and crack at the end. It hurts.”Vancouver goaltender Jacob Markstrom stopped 22 shots.Vancouver coach Travis Green said the game was “something to hang your hat on” as the Canucks held their ground against the Western Conference-leading Jets.“Our team played great tonight,” Green said. “One of our better games of the year.“The guys wanted to win bad tonight and they played like it. We’ll be fine if we keep playing like that.”Brossoit showed his quickness in the first period, sticking out a pad to stop a wrist shot by Josh Leivo, and then he blocked Elias Pettersson’s attempt on the rebound.Midway through the second period, with Vancouver pressing on a power play, Brossoit dragged his leg in front of Alexander Edler’s shot from the point through traffic.Markstrom wasn’t as busy, but still needed to be sharp. With just 51 seconds left in the first period he slid across his net to block a shot by Scheifele on a Jets power play.There were loud boos in the third period when Winnipeg defenseman Ben Chairot hit Vancouver’s Tyler Motte with what looked like a high stick. No penalty was called on the play.NOTES: Edler played his 782nd game to surpass Harold Snepts for the most by a Canucks defenseman. .. Second-period shots were 17-7 in favor of Vancouver. . Early in the first period, Byfuglien blasted a slap shot that hit forward Blake Wheeler in the midsection. Wheeler needed help getting to the bench and headed to the dressing room. He returned later in the period. .. Winnipeg center Andrew Copp missed his 10th straight game with an upper-body injury but is expected to return after the Christmas break.UP NEXTJets: Home against Calgary on Thursday.Canucks: At Edmonton on Thursday.