In a crucial matchup against one of their main competitors in the Eastern Conference playoff race, the New Jersey Devils (29-25-4) fell to the Tampa Bay Lightning (32-23-5) 4-1 in a matinee at the Prudential Center. It was a crushing loss that left the Devils searching for answers as the playoff race enters its latter stages and as the trade deadline approaches.
First Period
Neither team started the game aggressively, taking responsible defensive approaches. The Lightning’s top-ranked power play went to work early on an Alexander Holtz tripping penalty. Despite Tampa’s prowess on the man advantage, New Jersey stood tall on the kill, only allowing one grade-A chance from Nikita Kucherov. Nicholas Paul took an interference penalty with 30 seconds left in the advantage, forcing a four-on-four and an abbreviated Devils power play. New Jersey got a few scoring chances on Jonas Johansson, but nothing too dangerous.
The Devils killed off another Lightning power play later in the period, an impressive feat against the dangerous unit. The rest of the period was relatively even as the Lightning limited the Devils’ speed.
Though the Devils only managed six shots on net, they got the edge in the possession numbers, earning a 57.69 Corsi-for percentage (CF%) and 1.13 expected goals (xG) for a 65.19 xG% to go along with four high-danger shot attempts.
Second Period
The Lightning came out flying to start the second period. After corralling a dangerous puck in their crease seconds into the period, Tampa went right back the other way and drew first blood. Nikita Kucherov marched right through the Devils’ defense in the slot and wired it right to a wide-open Victor Hedman, who snapped a wrist shot on an open net. It was the 42nd time this season the Devils have let up the first goal of the game, a league-worst.
Brayden Point extended the lead at the 4:15 mark, capitalizing on a series of New Jersey miscues from Luke Hughes failing to intercept the puck at the blue line, Colin Miller getting burned, and Akira Schmid not sealing the post. All he had to do was wait for an opening. Nikita Kucherov got an assist on the goal, his 100th point of the season.
The Devils got another power play after the referees called Steven Stamkos for tripping, giving New Jersey a crucial opportunity to get back in the game. Despite a severely slumping power play, they pounced on the chance. Jack Hughes motored behind the net, sent the puck into the crease where it bounced off a couple of Lightning defenders right to Tyler Toffoli, who buried the Devils’ second power-play goal in two days at the 6:01 mark.
The Devils took the momentum and ran with it for the rest of the period, getting good shifts in Tampa’s zone. They put the pressure on at the end of the period, threatening to score again as the seconds wound off the clock. The Lightning survived this pressure, however, taking a one-goal lead into the second intermission.
The Lightning started strong, but the Devils snatched the momentum at the end of the period. Overall, it was a relatively even period with New Jersey notching a 55.32 CF% and a 50.90 xG%.
Third Period
The Lightning applied pressure early in the frame but gifted New Jersey a power play minutes in on a Tyler Motte interference call. They didn’t register a single shot, however, as the Lightning clamped down their zone. They got another power play soon after that and while they looked a lot better, they still only managed one shot. These failed power plays were disappointing after their earlier power-play goal.
After the power plays, the Lightning put their foot on the gas. Brendan Hagel scored halfway into the period, finding a slow, bouncing puck in the low slot and poking it into an empty net. Akira Schmid had plenty of time to get in position for the shot but stayed at the far post.
After successfully killing their third penalty of the day, the Devils were in desperation mode as the game slipped away but were simply outmatched by Tampa. They couldn’t get the puck into high-danger areas, they played sloppy in the neutral zone and spent far too much time in their own end. Lindy Ruff pulled Schmid with under three minutes to play but it was too late. Kucherov sniped the empty netter to seal a 4-1 Lightning win.
The Devils went toe-to-toe with Tampa in the first two periods but completely collapsed in the third, posting a 35.29 CF% and a dismal 3.67 xG% at five-on-five.
Results
Yesterday was disastrous, there’s no way around it. Right now, the Lightning are the last team in an Eastern Conference playoff spot, so a win was imperative. Further, New Jersey can’t even lean on the fact that this was the second game of a back-to-back because the Lightning were in the same position. Since the Stadium Series, the Devils have lost three of four against division and conference rivals.
The Devils occupy fourth place in the Metropolitan Division with 62 points. The Lightning are in fourth in the Atlantic with 69 points. Mercifully, the Penguins beat the Flyers yesterday, keeping the Devils five points back of a playoff spot in the division.
Game Notes
Kucherov Has a Monster Day
Nikita Kucherov continues to make a serious case for the Hart Trophy. Yesterday, Kucherov had four points; three assists and an empty net goal. He was on his game all afternoon, tightroping beautiful passes through well-guarded areas.
His assist on Victor Hedman’s goal was particularly impressive. He could have shot it on a screened but well-positioned Schmid but he sent a wicked pass to a wide-open Hedman instead. Dom Luszczyszyn’s model put him at a Game Score of 4.33. Kucherov now has 38 goals and 101 points this season.
Hughes Brothers Struggle
When both Hughes brothers struggle, you know it’s going to be a bad day. Luke Hughes has been struggling for a few games now going back to Tuesday’s game against Washington. His decision-making has just been off, such as when he didn’t clear the zone, resulting in the Victor Hedman goal. He notched a 46.51 CF% and a 38.32 xG% to go along with a -2.57 Game Score.
Jack wasn’t much better. Though he had his signature speed, he lacked the agility and playmaking ability that makes him so great. He looked weak on his edges specifically, taking multiple falls. He posted a 36.11 CF%, an 18.14 xG%, and a -3.12 Game Score.
Power Play Flickers, Then Fades
Though the Devils scored two power-play goals this weekend, an improvement from their demoralizing months-long slump, the unit still failed to get the job done against Tampa. They did score one goal on the man advantage, the Toffoli goal that bounced off a couple of defenders, but looked flat on their other three power plays. After letting up that goal, the Lightning exploited New Jersey’s weaknesses on the power play, clearing the puck down the ice over and over. The Devils have a 10.1% power play success rate since January 17th.
Up Next
The Devils will head to San Jose to take on the Sharks tomorrow at 10:30 pm ET.