NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — Brandon Hagel had a goal and two assists, Andrei Vasilevskiy made 22 saves and the Tampa Bay Lightning scored the last four goals in a 4-1 victory over the Devils on Tuesday night.
Anthony Cirelli, Alex Killorn and Nikita Kucherov also scored for Tampa Bay in the opener of a two-game set. The teams will meet again in New Jersey on Thursday night, and face off Sunday night in Florida.
Damon Severson opened the scoring for the Devils at 5:55 of the first period. Ryan Graves’ apparent goal midway through the first was wiped out because of goalie interference after a coach’s challenge.
Cirelli tied it on a backhander with 3:43 left in the first. Hagel gave Tampa Bay the lead midway through the second with his 24th goal of the season.
Killorn added his 21st goal, and Kucherov scored his 27th right before the second-period horn sounded. Tampa Bay scored its three goals in the second on just seven shots.
Vitek Vanecek made 26 saves for New Jersey.
WISH COME TRUE
The Devils hosted Reilly Hoagland, the club’s honorary selection in the 2020 NHL draft, granting his wish to be a New Jersey Devil for a day. A 16-year-old from Toms River, New Jersey, Hoagland is a cystic fibrosis patient and a Make-A-Wish New Jersey wish recipient whose in-arena wish experience was long-awaited following public health concerns amidst the COVID-19 pandemic three years ago.
NOTES
Forward Curtis Lazar made his Devils debut after he was acquired at the trade deadline from the Vancouver Canucks. He replaced Nathan Bastion (upper-body injury). … Tampa Bay captain Steven Stamkos (leg injury) remains day-to-day.