TAMPA, Fla. _ There's something about the New Jersey Devils that seems to bring out the best in the Lightning's offense.
After scoring eight goals against the Devils on Oct. 30, the Lightning put up five more goals in a 5-2 victory over the Devils on Sunday at Amalie Arena.
But this time, the Lightning (17-6-1) didn't have to overcome an early deficit.
Instead of giving up two early goals and needing a spark from defenseman Braydon Coburn in the form of two first-period goals, the Lightning jumped out to a 3-0 lead.
The first goal came about three minutes into the game with a goal from Alex Killorn. Rookie wing Mathieu Joseph set up the goal as he hustled to steal the puck from New Jersey goaltender Cory Schneider behind the net.
The second came four minutes later via the power play when Brayden Point scored his 16th goal of the season. Nikita Kucherov set him up in the slot to extend Kucherov's point streak to six games after two home games in which he tallied three points. Kucherov finished with two assists. The assist also tied Kucherov with Vinny Prospal for sixth place on the Lightning's all-time power play points list.
Then Point paid the favor forward. About two minutes later, he passed the puck to Tyler Johnson who extended the Lightning's lead to 3-0 with a one-timer. With two goals and an assist Sunday, Point has tallied 12 points over the past six games.
Moments after Chuck Berry's Johnny B. Goode rocked Amalie Arena and the celebration commenced, New Jersey snuck in a goal. Right wing Stefan Noesen tapped the puck into the Lightning net off a rebound. Tampa Bay challenged the goal, citing goaltender interference as Brian Boyle pushed Louis Domingue out of the crease on the initial shot. However, the call stood. Noesen's goal marked the fourth goal in less than half a period.
But the New Jersey momentum would halt there. Cedric Paquette gave the three-goal lead back to the Lightning with 8:35 when he poked in the puck from the front of the net. Ryan Callahan picked up the assist.
After killing a late New Jersey power play, the Lightning took a 4-1 lead into the first intermission.
The Lightning cooled off after the break and did not score a second-period goal. Well, a Lightning player didn't score a goal on the New Jersey net. Tampa Bay did take a 5-1 lead, though with 11:30 left in the second when Sami Vatanen scored on his own net. Point, however, received credit for the goal.
Unlike the last game between the Devils and the Lightning, New Jersey's Kyle Palmieri did not score in the second period. He had an excellent chance in the first six minutes with only defenseman Ryan McDonagh between him and the net, but McDonagh shoved Palmieri off the puck, which the home crowd applauded.
Right before the Lightning took a 5-1 lead into the second intermission, captain Steven Stamkos left the ice during play with two minutes left in the second period. He went straight to the dressing room after a hit from Andy Greene. Hunched over as he skated off the ice straight to the tunnel, Stamkos didn't even bother to grab his stick.
Stamkos, however, returned to the ice at the start of the third period. He skated immediately, playing on the final 48 seconds of the Lightning's third power play of the game.
Despite the four-goal deficit, the Devils would not go away quietly. Jesper Bratt scored his first goal of the season with 14:39 left in the third to bring New Jersey within three.
