New Jersey Devils rally in second to edge Tampa Bay Lightning 5-4 -NHL Update
Tampa Bay thought that they were back in the game when they caught up with New Jersey during the first period, but as the Devils rallied in the second to score three straight, Lightning could take no more and lost, 5-4, on Monday night, December 12, 2011, at the St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa, Florida, United States.
Petr Sykora kicked off the scoring with the first of the night and of his 2011-2012 National Hockey League's (NHL) regular season, followed by Dainius Zubrus, who extended the lead nearly five minutes later on their initial power play opportunity, with Eric Brewer being penalised for holding.
"It's an important game," New Jersey Devils' head coach, Peter DeBoer, said. "I think we're both spinning our wheels a little bit where we're sitting in the standings and both trying to get some traction and move up. It was a key two points."
Tampa Bay found a way right back into the contest as Steve Downie and Blair Jones added two straight, nearly a minute apart to level the game before entering the second period, which would be especially heavy for them.
Zach Parise sparked New Jersey's scoring spree with his ninth of the season, 56 seconds into the second period, followed by Ilya Kovalchuk at the 5:42 mark, while Adam Henrique made what would later be known as the game-winner, shorthanded with the Devils down a player.
Steven Stamkos added Tampa Bay’s third on a power play opportunity, nearly midway through the third 20 minute period and added another one with 34 seconds remaining, but of no use as Lightning failed to make the equaliser.
"We're finding ways to lose game right now," Stamkos said. "We showed, obviously, a lot of character like we always do. That second period killed us. We dug ourselves a whole to big to climb out of."
New Jersey will be playing the Florida Panthers on the road before returning home to face the Dallas Stars on Friday, while Tampa Bay Lightning will be looking to snap its two-game losing streak on Thursday against Calgary Flames.
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