NEWARK, N.J. _ The Lightning fell back on an old trick, outscoring their problems on Wednesday night. They took five penalties but scored seven goals to beat the Devils, 7-6 in overtime
Tyler Johnson scored 1:16 into overtime to give Tampa Bay the win.
This was the fifth time through the first 12 games they have granted an opponent five power plays. The Devils, who doubled their average goals-per-game, scored one power-play goal and another one second after a penalty expired. New Jersey entered the second intermission leading 4-3 and then added another goal early in the third period to go up 5-3.
But the Lightning rallied with three unanswered goals. Ondrej Palat, who scored twice, gave Tampa Bay the lead with 3:57 left in regulation, with a shot from the top of the right circle that deflected off goalie Cory Schneider's glove.
Tampa Bay came excruciatingly close to a regulation win, but the Devils' Kyle Palmieri scored with 7.6 seconds to get the equalizer and send the game into overtime.
With Palat notching two gaols and Johnson scoring the game-winner, the Lightning got a strong effort from the Palat/Johnson/Brayden Point line. Point started off Palat's first goal, carrying the puck up the ice with speed and then passing to Kevin Shattenkirk, who set up Palat's one-timer.
Point capped off a strong shift by the trio midway through the second period, scoring on Johnson's rebound to give the Lightning a 3-2 lead at the time.
Curtis McElhinney gave up six goals and still played an impressive game, stopping 42 shots. Two of the goals were tipped in the slot. It was the fourth time the Lightning have given up 40 shots or more, and the third when McElhinney was in net.
