New Jersey Devils continue rolling, this time past Tampa Bay Lightning 6-4 -NHL Update
While Tampa Bay can be considered out of the playoff race this time around, New Jersey Devils just got a whole closer to clinching a postseason berth after a wild 6-4 victory over the Lightning, Thursday night, March 29, 2012, at the Prudential Center in
Newark, New Jersey.
Tampa Bay was on a three-game winning streak coming into their previous matchup against Boston Bruins but losing 5-2 just forced all their momentum right down the drain, now having lost their second straight.
Now only an inch away, Devils are getting pumped up about returning to the playoffs after a failed season last year.
"I'm looking forward to getting back in the playoffs, no doubt about that," Devils goalie, Martin Brodeur, said. "It was tough to go through what we went through last year. But we learned. We're not there yet, but looking forward to getting in there soon
and then playing well when called upon."
Ryan Malone gave Tampa Bay a one point lead heading into the second period with his last minute goal in round-one but Devils just kept shooting in the next to take over the game from there.
Dainius Zubrus scored New Jersey’s first shorthanded followed by the tie-breaker from Malone while Jacob Josefson levelled it yet again at 6:54.
Malone completed his hat trick at 10:13, boosting his 2011-2012 National Hockey League (NHL) regular season total to 18 goals now, but to no use as Ilya Kovalchuk and Marek Zidlicky potted two straight taking the score to 4-3.
Alexei Ponikarovsky and David Clarkson added the final two for New Jersey to secure the match by 6:05 of the third while Trevor Smith put in the last for Tampa Bay at 19:51.
"We weren't very smart with the puck and got caught out there," Malone said. "They did a good job of wearing us down and beating us to the net and winning their battles."
New Jersey is looking to clinch a playoff spot going up against Carolina Hurricanes on the road on Saturday while Tampa Bay can only continue to play with the next at home against Winnipeg Jets the same day.
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