Devils use fast start to stymie Lightning
NEWARK, N.J. -- Cory Schneider made 32 saves as the New Jersey Devils jumped to a big lead before holding off the Tampa Bay Lightning for a 3-1 victory at Prudential Center on Saturday.
The Devils, who lost to the Chicago Blackhawks in overtime Friday, beat a Lightning squad that was coming off a 3-1 loss at Montreal on Thursday.
Center Adam Henrique and defenseman Damon Severson each had a goal and an assist for the Devils, who finished their five-game homestand with a 4-0-1 mark. Right winger Devante Smith-Pelly also scored for New Jersey.
Center Tyler Johnson got the Lightning on the board early in the third period with his second goal of the season.
Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy allowed three goals on 23 shots in his third start of the season.
Henrique's second goal of the season gave the Devils a 1-0 lead at 3:57 of the first period. He took advantage of a misplay at the blue line by left winger Alex Killorn and beat Vasilevskiy with a wrist shot to the stick side off a 2-on-1 rush.
Severson, who assisted on Henrique's goal, scored at 13:13 to make it 2-0. Henrique's initial shot was stopped but the rebound fell to Severson, who tapped home the rebound from the doorstep.
Smith-Pelly's first of the season extended the lead to 3-0 at 5:22 of the second period. Right winger Nick Lappin earned his first career point by feeding Smith-Pelly on the doorstep for a deflection goal with Lightning defenseman Braydon Coburn all over him.
Johnson sliced the lead to 3-1 at 1:59 of the third period. Left winger Brayden Point controlled the puck and seemed to mesmerize the Devils defense that lost track of a wide-open Johnson near the net for the tap-in goal.
NOTES: Tampa Bay RW Nikita Kucherov (upper body) is day-to-day. Kucherov was the Lightning's leading scorer last season (30 goals, 36 assists, 66 points). "Every time one of your guns are out, it's not a good situation, but let's just hope it's only a couple games or just one game," Lightning coach Jon Cooper told the media Saturday morning. ... Lightning D Matt Taormina, who once played for the Devils, was scratched. ... Aside from goaltender, the Devils iced the same lineup they used Friday against the Chicago Blackhawks. ... Devils C Jacob Josefon and LW Reid Boucher were scratched.