TAMPA, Fla. – The Tampa Bay Lightning will be looking for their first win of the season as they host the New Jersey Devils tonight at Benchmark International Arena. Both Atlantic and Metropolitan Division squads enter the contest with identical 0-1-0 records, having dropped their respective season openers on Thursday.
The Lightning fell 5-4 at home to the Ottawa Senators, while the Devils suffered a 6-3 loss on the road against the Carolina Hurricanes. Tonight’s game marks the first of three meetings between the clubs this season.
Offense Expected to Lead the Way
Despite the opening-night loss, Tampa Bay’s high-powered offense showed up, potting four goals against Ottawa. Center Brayden Point led the charge with a three-point performance (1G, 2A), while superstar Nikita Kucherov added two goals to his total. Defenseman Victor Hedman and newly acquired forward Jake Guentzel each contributed two assists to round out the top scorers.
The Devils’ attack was paced by Jesper Bratt’s two points (1G, 1A) and defenseman Luke Hughes’ two assists. Center Cody Glass also found the back of the net. While New Jersey managed only three goals in their opener, they were a respectable 20th in the league in goals scored last season. The Lightning, conversely, were the league’s top-scoring team in 2024-25, averaging 3.56 goals for per game.
The Lightning boast an early-season edge on special teams, converting on a staggering 66.7% (1st in NHL) of their power-play chances through one game. The Devils, however, were shut out on the man-advantage (0%) in their opener, a stark contrast to their 28.24% (3rd in NHL) power-play percentage from last season.
| Category | Tampa Bay Lightning | New Jersey Devils |
| Record | 0-1-0 (0 pts.) | 0-1-0 (0 pts.) |
| Last Game | 5-4 L vs. OTT | 6-3 L at CAR |
| Streak | L1 | L1 |
| Goals For (GF) | 4 | 3 |
| Goals Against (GA) | 5 | 6 |
| Power Play (PP%) | 66.7% (1st) | 0% (T-19th) |
| Penalty Kill (PK%) | 75% (T-17th) | 75% (T-17th) |
Head-to-Head History and Goaltending Matchup
The Lightning have historically had a slight edge over the Devils, with an all-time record of 45-53-16, including a more balanced 24-23-8 on home ice. Tampa Bay took the season series last year with a 2-0-1 record, including a victory in their lone home matchup.
Goaltending is a key factor tonight. The expected starter for the Lightning, Andrei Vasilevskiy, has a solid 9-5-1 career record against the Devils with a .908 save percentage. He was particularly sharp against New Jersey last season, posting a .945 save percentage in his two appearances. For the Devils, expected starter Jacob Markstrom (0-1-0, 6.00 GAA, .818 SV% in 2025-26) will be looking for a significant bounce-back performance.
Players to Watch and Milestones Looming
Veteran players will be eyeing significant milestones as the young season progresses. For the Lightning, Nikita Kucherov is just four points shy of 1,000 career points, while defense leader Victor Hedman is also four points away from 800 career points.
On the Devils’ side, keep an eye on young star Jack Hughes, who, despite only recording an assist in the opener, posted an impressive 93-point pace in an injury-shortened 2024-25 campaign. Defenseman Luke Hughes had a big first game, leading all players in the matchup with two assists.
The Lightning have historically been able to count on a few key forwards against New Jersey, as Brandon Hagel (1.64), Nikita Kucherov (1.52), and Brayden Point (1.27) are three of the league’s active leaders in points per game against the Devils (minimum 10 GP).
The Devils are the second stop on a three-game road trip for the Lightning’s first opponent.
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