(My Sportsbook) - Coming off a rare recent loss, the
New Jersey Devils will be aiming for a quick rebound when the Atlantic Division leaders take on the
Tampa Bay Lightning tonight at St. Pete Times Forum.
New Jersey's four-game winning streak was halted by the red-hot Florida Panthers on Tuesday, when Tomas Vokoun stopped all 36 shots he faced to help deal the Devils a 4-0 defeat at the BankAtlantic Center.
The setback also ended a string of seven consecutive road victories for the Devils, who were coming off back-to-back home wins over powerhouses Boston and San Jose.
New Jersey has not dropped back-to-back contests since January 6-8 and had won 13 times in a 15-game stretch prior to Tuesday's loss. The Devils currently own an eight-point lead over second-place Philadelphia in the Atlantic standings and are just two back of Southeast leader Washington for the No. 2 playoff seed in the Eastern Conference.
The Devils now try for a turnaround against a Tampa Bay club they have taken five straight meetings from, including a pair of matchups earlier this season. In its last visit to the St. Pete Times Forum, New Jersey cruised to a 7-3 decision on November 23 behind a four-goal outburst from forward Dainius Zubrus.
Tampa Bay is also attempting to bounce back from a tough loss its last time out, when Chicago scored four unanswered goals in a 5-3 triumph over the homestanding Lightning on Tuesday.
The Blackhawks' comeback spoiled outstanding performances from Lightning rookie Steven Stamkos and goaltender Karri Ramo. Stamkos, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2008 draft, recorded his first career hat trick on the evening, while Ramo made a career-best 44 saves in a losing cause.
Tampa Bay was coming off a lopsided home defeat to Washington last Saturday and is just 2-6-1 over its last nine outings.
Tonight's test ends a six-game homestand for Tampa Bay, which has gone 2-3-0 thus far on the residency and has compiled a 10-12-7 record as the host this season.
The Devils have been one of the NHL's top road teams in 2008-09, bringing an impressive 18-8-2 away mark into this evening's tilt.
