Credit: NHL.com
Lightning Strike Over The Devils, 8-5
Published: Thursday, October 24, 2024
by Ryan Fox
NEWARK, N.J - The New Jersey Devils (5-2-1) took on the Tampa Bay Lightning (4-2-0) Tuesday evening back home at The Rock. New Jersey was hoping to bounce back after a 6-5 overtime loss to Washington this past Saturday. They came into the evening leading the Metropolitan Division, but with their 8-5 loss to the Lightning that night, they have now dropped to second.
The first half of play was mostly back and forth between New Jersey and Tampa Bay, with some very impressive saves on both sides of the ice. Starting in goal for New Jersey tonight was Jake Allen, while Tampa Bay started Jonas Johansson. 11 minutes in, Jack Hughes was able to find the back of the net with a nice deke on the play to put New Jersey up 1-0, with the assists going to Jesper Bratt and Ondřej Palát.
A mere three minutes later, Tampa Bay was sent to the first power play of the night off a boarding penalty called on Devil’s player Timo Meier. The Lightning’s Brayden Point was able to get one past Allen, with the assists going to Anthony Cirelli and Nikita Kucherov.
Puck drop initiated the second period of play and almost immediately, Meier sniped one past Johansson, putting New Jersey up 2-1. Jack Hughes got the assist, giving him his second point of the night. A questionable missed call occurred on the ice with Jesper Bratt going down, leading to Tampa’s Victor Hedman getting one past Allen, with Janis Moser and Jake Guentzel grabbing the assists.
Immediately the Lightning answered with more, this time with Brandon Hagel firing a snap-shot up close that found the back of the net. Nick Perbix and Anthony Cirelli got the assists, which was Cirelli’s second of the night. Hagel found the back of the goal again shortly after; the assists went to Conor Geekie, his first point of the season, and Cirelli once again. But Hagel’s electric performance wouldn’t stop there; he grabbed his third goal of the game just minutes after his second, giving Emil Lilleberg an assist and Cirelli his fourth of the night.
Two minutes later, Hedman grabbed his second goal of the night, with Moser and Hagel credited for the assists. Late in the second, New Jersey’s Paul Cotter and Tampa's Lilleberg were called for roughing, so four-on-four play took place for the last two minutes. The Devils ended the second period being outshot 30-22.
In the final period of play, Devil’s player Nate Bastian netted one early with an assist from Curtis Lazar, putting the Devils at a three-goal deficit. Yet quickly after, they shaved the deficit to two, as a Devils power play allowed Meier to snipe a one-timer shot, giving him his second goal of the night. He slotted it past Johansson to make the score 6-4, with Tomas Tatar and Simon Nemec providing the assists.
But Tampa’s power play unit was sent out right after, where Guentzel was able to capitalize on the change with an unassisted goal. Almost immediately after, goaltender Allen skated out of goal, leading to an open goal from Janis Moser on his error. The tides had quickly changed, and the Devils were now down 8-4.
Even still, when New Jersey was sent to the power play again a few minutes later, Stefan Noesen was able to land one on the top shelf, with Hughes and Hamilton snatching the assists. The clock wound down, and 8-5 was the final score of the night.
New Jersey will look to rebound and retake the Metropolitain division leader title soon again, and will take on the Red Wings this Thursday in Detroit with a 7 p.m. puck drop.
Ryan Fox can be reached at ryan.fox@student.shu.edu.Posted in: sports,