One step forward. Two steps back. Like Paula Abdul’s classic hit “Opposites Attract,” the Devils managed to suffer a brutal loss to the league worst Canucks on Sunday afternoon. After putting together one of their most complete performances without Jack Hughes, they reverted to form in a frustrating 2-1 defeat at The Rock.

It was as bad as it seemed for a struggling team that’s been decimated with injuries. Despite missing several regulars for a second straight day, it wasn’t a good enough excuse for failing to pounce on an inferior opponent that just moved star captain Quinn Hughes to the Wild.

The Canucks entered play losers of six of their last seven, sinking to an NHL worst 11-17-3 record. Top center Elias Pettersson remained out with an upper-body injury. That meant they iced a lineup with Kiefer Sherwood as their leading scorer.

None of it mattered for a Devils team that plays with zero consistency or zest. They went from posting a good win over the Ducks to shooting blanks at Thatcher Demko, with the oft-injured Canucks starter making 25 saves. That included stopping 12 of 13 in a busy second period. He turned aside eight more in a mind-numbering third period that saw Vancouver sit back and protect a one-goal lead that they built on the strength of a pair of early power-play goals.

Undisciplined penalties hurt the Devils in the first period. Less than a minute in, Dougie Hamilton took a needless slashing minor to put the Canucks on the power play.

On a set play that was started by newly acquired defenseman Zeev Buium, Conor Garland moved the puck down low for Jake Debrusk, who banged in his own rebound past Jacob Markstrom to put the Devils in an early 1-0 hole only 61 seconds in.

Stefan Noesen followed suit by boarding Liam Ohgren in what amounted to a careless penalty by a player who’s been underwhelming. Once again, Vancouver took full advantage when Buium had his wrist shot go off Brenden Dillon past Markstrom, giving the former Wild prospect his first goal as a Canuck at 6:48.

If that wasn’t enough, the Devils only mustered five shots in a lackluster opening period that drew boos from the fans. 

Frustration boiled over when they didn’t convert on a 5-on-3, which lasted 78 seconds. Demko made a few key stops, including one on Nico Hischier and another on Connor Brown, who was set up in front.

The second was better from the home side. The Devils picked up their play by outshooting the Canucks 13-6. They spent a lot of time on the attack.

Luke Hughes scored for the second time in three games. On a good play started by Dawson Mercer in transition, he got the puck over for Jesper Bratt, who found the trailing Hughes for his third to pull the Devils within one at 4:02.

Hughes was flying throughout the game. He led the team with five shots while pacing them in total ice time (27:01). He’s looked better over the past few games. He was very involved on the rush when the Devils needed someone to create offense.

Despite dictating most of the play, they never found the equalizer. Instead, Demko continued to thwart them. That included a good stop on a Hughes shot late in the period to keep the Canucks ahead.

Early in the final period, the Devils had another power play, but they were unable to even test Demko. It was a wasted opportunity in a game where special teams and goaltending were the difference. Not that Markstrom was bad. He still allowed Debrusk to get his own rebound, which set the tone. Since team president and general manager Tom Fitzgerald signed him to a two-year contract extension, he’s taken a beating.

More often than not, Markstrom has allowed bad goals that hurt the Devils. He almost always gives up at least three, which explains his 3.56 goals-against-average and .874 save percentage. He finished the game with 13 saves on only 15 shots, making it a rare instance in which he allowed only two. Granted. It was the Canucks, whose offense sucks without Pettersson. At least Marcus and the other Elias Pettersson played.

The problem for the Devils is that they have a hard time finding offense. It sure isn’t coming from Hamilton, who’s looked done. Fitzgerald handed out a moderated no-movement clause along with the nine million cap hit on a contract that doesn’t expire until 2028. Good luck trying to move him.

There’s also Ondrej Palat, who somehow has a similar moderated no-movement clause while earning $6 million. The former Lightning forward has been a shell of the player he was in Tampa. Unless someone’s desperate enough to take the remainder of Palat’s contract, which expires in 2026, the Devils will have to eat some salary or buy him out.

When you subtract key players such as Timo Meier, Arseny Gritsyuk, and Simon Nemec, it only underlines how flawed the roster is. Unless Cody Glass, Brown, and Paul Cotter are able to contribute more consistently, it basically falls on Hischier, Bratt, and Mercer to supply the offense.

Maybe it shouldn’t have come as a surprise that they only beat Demko once. Despite playing on a bad team, he’s capable of stealing games. It’s not like the Devils threw the kitchen sink at him. They had their chances in the second, but were only able to score once.

Considering how bunched up the teams are in the Metropolitan Division, these are the games the Devils have to win. They can’t be losing to cupcakes at home. It’s inexcusable for them to lose to such a bad team. It doesn’t say much for the roster Fitzgerald constructed.

Eventually, they’ll get Hughes and Brett Pesce back, which will stabilize things. But when you look at this team, are they good enough to seriously compete? Even fully healthy, they’ll probably need a checking center and another scorer to have any kind of chance.