Lightning at Devils
THE STORY: The New Jersey Devils are playing their best hockey of the season, including a solid effort in the loss to Vancouver on Friday. The Devils are 9-2-1 in their last 12 and they just acquired defenseman Marek Zidlicky from Minnesota in a trade. A top-four defenseman that was needed, Zidlicky is expected play when the Tampa Bay Lightning visit on Sunday. The Lightning will try to salvage something on a three-game road trip after dropping the first two.
TV: 1 p.m. ET; SunSports (Tampa), MSG-Plus (New Jersey).
ABOUT THE LIGHTNING (27-28-6): Tampa Bay started well in Saturday’s game in Pittsburgh, but could not recover from some bad breaks in the first period and was humbled 8-1. The Lightning’s hopes are sliding away, standing eight points out of the Southeast Division lead, but a win before heading home for 10 of the next 12 might give them some life. Steven Stamkos was shut out in Pittsburgh, but leads the NHL goal-scoring race by seven with 43. Teddy Purcell matched his career high with his 17th goal. Defenseman Victor Hedman left the Pittsburgh game with an upper-body injury and his status is uncertain.
ABOUT THE DEVILS (35-21-4): Even with some of its top scorers not delivering of late, New Jersey has found ways to win. Ilya Kovalchuk does not have a goal in four games, Patrik Elias has gone goalless for six and Zach Parise has one in his last six. David Clarkson is one guy picking up the slack with eight goals in his last 12 games, giving him a career-high 24. Zidlicky had no goals and 14 assists with the Wild, but he should help the Devils defense with his mobility. Goaltender Martin Brodeur is expected to start for the 16th time in the last 18 games. Defenseman Adam Larsson (back injury) could return.
OVERTIME:
1. The Devils have beaten Tampa Bay 14 in of their last 17 meetings, including both this season.
2. Purcell has four goals and 11 assists over the last 10 games for the Lightning.
3. New Jersey is second in the league in penalty killing at 88.6 percent.