Detroit Red Wings allow pair of Canucks players to make history against them

The Vancouver Canucks collected a pair of points over the Detroit Red Wings this afternoon at Little Caesars Arena, and a pair of Canucks players made history along the way.

Defenseman Quinn Hughes, the local product from the University of Michigan that the Red Wings passed on in favor of Filip Zadina, became Vancouver's all-time assist leader by a defenseman with his helper on teammate Jake DeBrusk's 2nd period power play goal.

Additionally, goaltender Kevin Lankinen became the first goaltender in National Hockey League history to go a perfect 10-0 on the road to begin a new year:

Ironically, the previous record of 9-0 on the road was co-shared by Red Wings goaltender Cam Talbot, who set the mark earlier in his career in 2022-23 with the Ottawa Senators; he departed today's game with a lower-body injury and wasn't able to return.

Canucks coach Rich Tocchet gave a special shoutout to Lankinen after the game, and included a joke about his propensity to win on the road.

Hughes' performance will continue to be a source of frustration for the Red Wings considering he was available for the taking in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft from nearby Ann Arbor.

But Detroit's former management team led by Ken Holland and scouting director Tyler Wright instead chose Filip Zadina, who was one of the biggest busts in team history for a high draft pick and is no longer playing in the NHL.