In the final game before their break, the New Jersey Devils fell to the Tampa Bay Lightning with a final score of 5-3. The Lightning established their dominance early with a 1-0 lead in the second period, which expanded to 2-0 by the intermission, with Hagel scoring his 15th goal of the year. Despite the Devils' lackluster performance, they showed signs of life in the third period when Ondrej Palat scored off a rebound from an initial shot by Nico Hischier, narrowing the gap to 2-1. Nevertheless, the Lightning's Stamkos extended the lead to 3-1. Toffoli managed to score for the Devils with only 1.4 seconds left on the clock, bringing the game to 4-3, but Hagel's second goal, an empty netter, ensured the Lightning's victory. The Devils were outshot 28-10 by Tampa Bay after the second period.
Lightning ENG. 5-3. #NJDevils
Hagel scores his second goal of the game, it is an empty net goal with 1:39 remaining in regulation 5-3 Tampa Bay Lightning
Toffoli. It's a one-goal game again, again. #NJDevils
Toffoli scores with 2:38 to play in the third... brings the score to 4-3 Lightning. #NJDevils saving all their offense for the third...
Toffoli at the side of the net makes it 4-3 with 2:38 to go.
#Bolts get the penalty killed off. Really nice PK work from Hedman, who had a couple physical plays on Toffoli and Bastian to gain possession and get clears. Back to 5-on-5 with 7:09 left in the third.
Interference call at 10:47, Lilleberg called for an offensive zone penalty gives New Jersey it's first power play of the night
#NJDevils will get their first power play of the game with 9:13 left in the game
a Devils goal ... 3-2 Tampa Bay Lightning with 12:41 on the clock
Bratter! #NJDevils cut the Lightning lead to 3-2!
#Bolts going back to the power play now as Marino gets two for holding with 15:44 left in the third. Chaffee, who has had a really strong game, draws the penalty.
one minute after that Palat goal, Stamkos finds the net ... Perbix with the shot, Stamkos gathers the rebound and he does not miss 3-1 Tampa Bay Lightning
Bolts regain their two-goal lead. Stamkos. 3-1. #NJDevils
3-1 Lightning. Stamkos.
Palat cuts the #Bolts lead in half early in this third period with a goal off of a rebound 2-1 Tampa Bay Lightning
Smart, low shot by Hischier and the rebound pops right out to Palat, who scores another goal at AMALIE Arena and makes it 2-1 with 17:11 left in regulation.
Ondrej Palat capitalizes off a Vasilevskiy rebound and #NJDevils are within one. Nico Hischier took the initial shot that rebounded off of the Lightning netminder.
END 2: #NJDevils look lifeless (outside of Vanecek and that one Mercer attempt I guess). They trail 2-0. Shots were 19-4 Tampa in that period.
#Bolts head to the second intermission with a 2-0 lead over the Devils on goals from Paul and Hagel. Shots are 28-10 Tampa Bay.
#NJDevils best chance of the game, a Mercer backhand in all alone, denied by Vasilevskiy.
#Bolts take the 2-0 lead with 9:20 left in the second as Hagel jumps on a rebound in front and shovels it past Vanecek for his 15th goal of the year.
Lightning take a 2-0 lead.
And Tampa take the early second period lead, 1-0, on #NJDevils
#NJDevils going to the PK with 2:01 left in the 1st
Shots are 5-0 Tampa 10 minutes in. #NJDevils
Underway in Tampa. #NJDevils #GoBolts
Final game before the break is underway! #NJDevils and Lightning on deck!
Kaapo Kakko makes it 4-2. Shot from the point got blocked right onto his stick in front.
Kakko gets one with 1:05 to go. #NYR within 4-2.
Toffoli cuts the lead to 3-2 with 1.4 seconds on the clock. #NJDevils