{{pageModel.leagueAbbr}} {{pageModel.subtitle}} | Las Vegas Review-Journal
National Hockey League
Tampa Bay 4, New Jersey 1
When: 1:00 PM ET, Sunday, February 25, 2024
Where: Prudential Center, Newark, New Jersey
Referees: Francis Charron, Jon McIsaac
Linesmen: Brad Kovachik, James Tobias
Attendance: 16514

Victor Hedman and Brayden Point scored consecutive goals early in the second period Sunday afternoon for the visiting Tampa Bay Lightning, who completed a successful weekend by beating the New Jersey Devils 4-1 in Newark, N.J.

Brandon Hagel scored just before the midway point of the third and Nikita Kucherov added an empty-netter for the Lightning, who swept a back-to-back road set against the Devils and New York Islanders, each of whom are chasing Tampa Bay in the wild-card race.

Kucherov had four points and leads the NHL with 102.

Goaltender Jonas Johansson made 18 saves for the Lightning, who temporarily moved into the first wild card spot with 69 points before sliding back to the No. 2 spot after the Detroit Red Wings beat the Chicago Blackhawks later in the day.

The Lightning moved seven points ahead of the Devils, eight points ahead of the idle Washington Capitals and nine points ahead of the idle Islanders, whom Tampa Bay beat 4-2 on Saturday.

Tyler Toffoli scored in the second period for the Devils, who were trying to win consecutive games for just the third time since Jan. 1. Goalie Akira Schmid recorded 23 saves.

After a scoreless first period, the Lightning took control with two goals in the first five minutes of the second.

Kucherov weaved into the slot and was surrounded by three Devils players before he tucked a pass between the legs of New Jersey defenseman Jonas Siegenthaler to Hedman. Schmid was stuck leaning to his right when Hedman tucked a shot into the gaping left corner of the net at the 1:27 mark.

Point doubled the lead just 2:48 later, when he capped an end-to-end rush by skating past the goal line before sending an angled shot off Schmid's skate and into the net.

Steven Stamkos was whistled for tripping Siegenthaler at the 5:11 mark of the second, setting up the power play that yielded Toffoli's goal at 6:01.

But the Lightning added their first insurance goal when Hagel collected the carom of a Point pass off the skate of John Marino and backhanded a shot past a sliding Schmid with 10:22 left in the third. Kucherov scored his empty-netter with 1:35 remaining.

--Field Level Media

Top Game Performances
 
Tampa Bay   New Jersey
Nikita Kucherov 4 Points Tyler Toffoli 1
Nikita Kucherov 1 Goals Tyler Toffoli 1
Nikita Kucherov 3 Assists Jack Hughes 1
N/A Power Play Goals Tyler Toffoli 1
N/A Short Handed Goals N/A
Jonas Johansson .947 Save Percentage Akira Schmid .885
Jonas Johansson 18 Saves Akira Schmid 23
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Shots Goals Power Play Penalty Kill Penalty Mins Face Offs Won
Tampa Bay 27 4 0-3 3-4 8 21
New Jersey 19 1 1-4 3-3 6 28
Upcoming Games
  • New Jersey will play their next game on the road against San Jose. The Devils have a W/L % of .433 after a win and .571 after a loss.
  • Tampa Bay will play their next game on the road against Philadelphia. The Lightning have a W/L % of .500 after a win and .571 after a loss.