Devils at Lightning
THE STORY: The New Jersey Devils could be ready to make a run toward the top of the conference. The Devils have won five of their last seven and scored five goals for the first time since last Jan. 23 in beating Buffalo on Wednesday. New Jersey hopes to extend the good times Saturday at the Tampa Bay Lightning, who have won six straight at home. The Devils welcomed back speedy winger Ilya Kovalchuk from injury against Buffalo and he contributed a goal. Kovalchuk has 32 goals and 58 points in 53 games against Tampa Bay. The Lightning allowed seven goals in their home opener and just seven in the last six on home ice. New Jersey has won 13 of 16 games against the Lightning the last four seasons – six via overtime or shootouts.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, MSG Plus-2 (New Jersey), CW-44 (Tampa).
ABOUT THE DEVILS (9-7-1): The Devils allowed their first power-play goal in nine games against Buffalo, but took over the league lead in penalty killing at 92.1 percent. The Lightning knocked Pittsburgh out of the top spot, scoring twice with the man advantage Thursday. New Jersey must improve on the power play, which ranks near the bottom of the league at 11.5 percent. Patrik Elias has scored in 14 of his last 16 games and leads the team with 17 points. Rookie Adam Henrique has nine points in eight November games.
ABOUT THE LIGHTNING (9-7-2): Captain Vincent Lecavalier recorded his 46th multi-goal game against Pittsburgh to give him eight goals on the campaign. The center did not score his eighth goal last season until Jan. 15. Lecavalier is also playing some of the best defense of his career. Coach Guy Boucher put his big three of Lecavalier, Marty St. Louis and Steven Stamkos together Thursday. Power forward Ryan Malone, who has missed the last four games with an upper-body injury, is close to returning.
OVERTIME:
1. The Devils have won four games in overtime or shootouts, the most in the NHL through Thursday’s games.
2. Tampa Bay’s Steve Downie broke a 16-game goal-scoring drought Thursday and reached 100 career points.
3. New Jersey’s Dainius Zubrus played his 1,000th career game Wednesday.