SPORTS WITH 3

Six games is usually a huge goal drought for a caliber player like Ilya Kovalchuk. However, tonight it all ended after 17:34 into the 2nd period, Kovalchuk intercepted a Sami Salo pass in his defensive zone to go on a 2 on 1 rush with Travis Zajac and put a short-handed goal past Anders Lindback, which gave New Jersey a 2-1 lead over the Tampa Bay Lightning. Final score was 4-2 Devils. Adam Henrique gave the Devils a 1-0 lead 3:28 into the 2nd period, but Nate Thompson tied it 13:19 into the period. Andy Greene made it 3-1 on a 5 on 3 power play 15:02 into the 3rd period followed by 14 seconds later when Patrik Elias made it 4-1 15:16 into the period on another 5 on 3 goal which resulted from a bench minor. Matt Carle scored with 2:15 left in regulation to bring the Lightning to a 4-2 deficit. 

Shots were 27-19 Devils in the game, so it was 25 saves for Marty Brodeur in his 2nd straight win. However, the Devils Penalty Kill is quickly turning into the lethal force that it was in the 2011-2012 season as it has been working and is 19 for the last 19 in these situations. The Lightning were 0-5 on the power play and the Devils scored twice on 2 5 on 3's. Next up for Devils is a weekend series against Pittsburgh. Saturday at 1 PM at Prudential Center and Sunday at 7:30PM at Consol Energy Center.