Devils 4, Lightning 2
Patrik Elias recorded a goal and two assists for his second straight three-point game as New Jersey pulled away in the third period to hand visiting Tampa Bay its third straight loss.
Ilya Kovalchuk netted a short-handed goal late in second period to put the Devils ahead 2-1 before defenseman Andy Greene and Elias scored 14 seconds apart in the third, both with a two-man advantage. Adam Henrique added a goal for the Devils and Martin Brodeur made 17 saves in his 1,199th career game.
Nate Thompson and defenseman Matt Carle scored goals and Martin St. Louis added two assists for the Lightning. Reigning Maurice Richard Trophy winner Steven Stamkos, who turned 23 years old on Thursday, added an assist and Anders Lindback made 23 saves for Tampa Bay.
The Devils killed off three power plays in the second period before taking the lead. Kovalchuk stole a pass by defenseman Sami Salo and held the puck all the way down the left wing before firing a wrist shot past Lindback with 2:26 remaining in the session.
New Jersey put the game away on the power play in the third after the Lightning were whistled for three penalties within 18 seconds, the third on a bench minor for abuse of official. Greene scored at 15:02 from the slot and Elias added another off Tampa Bay defenseman Eric Brewer's stick for a 4-1 lead. Greene and Kovalchuk also had assists.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Stamkos has scored the most goals (186) of any active player before the age of 23 – three more than Pittsburgh’s Sidney Crosby. He is fourth all-time behind Wayne Gretzky (329), Dale Hawerchuk (220) and Mario Lemieux (215). … Devils' Dainius Zubrus, who has four points in nine games, was held out of the lineup with an upper-body injury. … New Jersey has killed 19 straight power plays after going 4-for-4 against Tampa Bay.