Lightning drop game in overtime to Devils, 3-2

Despite getting outshot 14-9 and out-chanced 14-9, the Lightning were able to head into the locker room tied at one thanks to Victor Hedman, well, just shooting the puck at the net. Jacob Markstrom (who finished with 23 saves on 25 shots, had no idea where this puck was going thanks to the screen in front of him.

Victor Hedman (Nick Paul) 1-1

The Devils kept chucking the puck towards the net in the second period with 22 attempts, but the Bolts blocked seven shots and forced another nine wide to limit New Jersey to just six actual shots on goal. Unfortunately, one of those found the twine behind Vasilevskiy. After Brayden Point turned the puck over in the neutral zone, Jack Hughes slithered into the Lightning zone and snaked a wrister past Vasy’s glove.

Jack Hughes (unassisted) 2-1 Devils

Despite a little pressure, the Lightning couldn’t solve Markstrom in the middle frame and Tampa Bay went into the third period trailing by one goal. A deficit that Nikita Kucherov would erase with his 18th goal of the season. While the finish was nice, how about that backhand pass out of the defensive zone by Ryan McDonagh?

Nikita Kucherov (Brandon Hagel, Ryan McDonagh) 2-2

That would end the scoring in regulation, namely because Markstrom was really good, and the Bolts didn’t allow the Devils much in their zone. New Jersey had just seven shot attempts with only one needing to be stopped by Vasilevskiy, who finished with 23 saves.

In overtime, Nick Paul was called for tripping and the Devils finally cracked the Lightning penalty kill, something a team had yet to do in 2025. Give Sheldon Keefe credit for putting four forwards on the ice, but even with all that offense, they needed a lucky bounce. Luke Glendening managed to knock down Jack Hughes centering pass, but he couldn’t control it, which allowed Noesen to pounce on it and slam the puck past Vasilevskiy.

Stefan Noesen (Jack Hughes, Jesper Bratt) Power Play, 3-2 Devils