In an exciting matchup, the Tampa Bay Lightning secured their second consecutive victory by defeating the New Jersey Devils 8-4. The game showcased a strong offensive performance, highlighted by Oliver Bjorkstrand, who scored two goals. Other contributors included Jake Guentzel, Brandon Hagel, Brayden Point, Darren Raddysh, Nick Paul, and Pontus Holmberg, each adding to the Lightning’s impressive total. Goalkeeper Jonas Johansson was a key figure, making 33 saves on 37 shots throughout the game.
Notably, Nikita Kucherov shone brightly with four assists during the match, marking his seventh career game with four assists and his 34th career four-point game. This places him among the elite, with only Sidney Crosby and Connor McDavid surpassing him in total four-point games among active NHL players.
However, the Lightning faced challenges with injuries. Andrei Vasilevskiy was placed on injured reserve earlier in the week and has not played since a narrow 2-1 loss to the Islanders on December 2. Vasilevskiy’s statistics this season include an 11-6-2 record, a 2.31 goals-against average, a .917 save percentage, and one shutout. While he practiced with the team recently, his IR designation requires that he miss a minimum of seven days.
With Vasilevskiy sidelined, Johansson stepped up to carry the load by starting five consecutive games for the Lightning. His record during this stretch is 2-3-0, with a solid 2.26 GAA and a .920 save percentage. However, his previous outings against the Islanders have been less favorable, with a 1-4-0 record and a 3.86 GAA.
Further complicating matters, Victor Hedman was placed back on IR and is anticipated to be out until early February, shortly before the 2026 Winter Olympics. After nearly a month away from the ice, Hedman returned to play three games but re-injured himself, necessitating another stint on injured reserve.
Rookie Dominic James is also dealing with an injury and is considered day-to-day. He contributed the only goal for Tampa Bay in their prior matchups against the Islanders and has accumulated five points (two goals and three assists) over 19 games this season.
The Lightning continue to excel on the penalty kill, currently boasting the second-best percentage in the NHL at 85.9%. However, their power play remains a struggle, ranking 22nd in the league at 17.9%. Despite this, they successfully converted two of three opportunities during Thursday’s game.
Tampa Bay’s overall record on the road stands at 10-4-2 for the season, including a balanced 2-2-0 in December. The team’s ability to rally in a high-scoring affair against New Jersey may serve as a crucial momentum builder as they navigate through a challenging schedule ahead.
