National Hockey League
BOXSCORE | RECAP
New Jersey 6, Tampa Bay 4
When: 7:00 PM ET, Thursday, March 29, 2012
Where: Prudential Center, Newark, New Jersey
Referees: Marc Joannette, Tom Kowal
Linesmen: Matt MacPherson, Greg Devorski
Attendance: 15380

DEVILS 6, LIGHTNING 4: Alexei Ponikarovsky and Dainius Zubrus each broke 13-game goal droughts as the dormant New Jersey offense came alive to defeat visiting Tampa Bay.

Ponikarovsky, David Clarkson and Ilya Kovalchuk each notched a goal and an assist for the Devils, who had scored 11 goals in their previous eight games.

Ponikarovsky deflected in a Bryce Salvador shot 2:25 into the third period for a 5-3 lead and Clarkson added his 29th goal at 6:05 to seal it on a rebound, snapping a nine-game stretch without a goal.

Tampa Bay’s Ryan Malone scored his fourth career hat trick, and first since Oct. 10, 2009. Malone gave the Lightning a 1-0 lead after one period on a rebound at 19:16.

The Devils scored four times – once each on the power play and shorthanded – to take a 4-3 lead after two periods.

Zubrus swept in a pass from Patrik Elias for the Devils’ league-leading 15th shorthanded goal 3:07 into the second. Jacob Josefson scored for New Jersey, sandwiched by two Malone goals -- the second at 10:13 for a 3-2 Tampa Bay lead.

Kovalchuk tied it for the Devils with a scorching wrist shot from the right circle at 13:26 and assisted on defenseman Marek Zidlicky’s power-play goal 1:11 later.

GAME NOTEBOOK
: Captain Vincent Lecavalier returned to the lineup for the Lightning after missing 18 games with a broken hand. … Adam Henrique and Elias each had two assists for the Devils. … Tampa Bay’s Steven Stamkos had an assist to give him 91 points, nine behind league leader Evgeni Malkin of the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Top Game Performances
 
Tampa Bay   New Jersey
Ryan Malone 3 Points David Clarkson 2
Ryan Malone 3 Goals David Clarkson 1
Victor Hedman 2 Assists Patrik Elias 2
N/A Power Play Goals Marek Zidlicky 1
N/A Short Handed Goals Dainius Zubrus 1
Sebastien Caron 1.000 Save Percentage Martin Brodeur .800
Dwayne Roloson 28 Saves Martin Brodeur 16
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Shots Goals Power Play Penalty Kill Penalty Mins Face Offs Won
Tampa Bay 20 4 0-3 3-4 8 18
New Jersey 38 6 1-4 3-3 6 39
Upcoming Games
  • New Jersey will play their next game on the road against Carolina. The Devils have a W/L % of .568 after a win and .559 after a loss.
  • Tampa Bay will play their next game at home against Winnipeg. The Lightning have a W/L % of .543 after a win and .381 after a loss.