The Lightning jumped out to a 2-0 lead on Saturday and went on to beat the Devils, 3-1, to advance to the second round of the playoffs. >> Box score

TAMPA, Fla. -- Jon Cooper isn't looking ahead by any means, but the Tampa Bay coach fully recognizes the opportunity to rest his team if the Lightning can close out their opening-round series with the New Jersey Devils by winning Game 5 on Saturday afternoon at Amalie Arena.

"If you have a chance to win a series, do it," Cooper explained Friday with his team staked to a 3-1 series lead after a 3-1 win on Wednesday night in Newark. "It's the travel, it's the wear. Just to get the mental and physical rest, to sit around and hope all the other series go deep. If you have this opportunity, you hope to take advantage of it."

The Lightning have looked like the Eastern Conference's top seed in building a 3-1 lead against the Devils, who had won all three regular-season meetings with Tampa Bay.

The Devils couldn't even the series against the Lightning as Nikita Kucherov led Tampa Bay with two goals in a 3-1 loss for New Jersey >> Box score

First period:

• 8:23 NJ Kyle Palmieri (Power Play); Assists: Will Butcher, Taylor Hall
• 11:30 TB J.T. Miller; Assists: Nikita Kucherov, Steven Stamkos
• 15:02 TB Nikita Kucherov; Assists: Braydon Coburn, J.T. Miller

Second period: No Goals

The New Jersey Devils proved in Game 3 of their first-round playoff series with the heavily favored Tampa Bay Lightning that they are not a team simply content with reaching the postseason.  << Read more

Taylor Hall recorded three points and Stefan Noesen scored the go-ahead goal midway through the third period as the Devils beat the Tampa Bay Lightning, 5-2, in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference quarterfinals on Monday at Prudential Center.

The Devils trail in the series 2-1. >> Box score

First period:

As the best-of-seven Eastern Conference quarterfinal series between the Tampa Bay Lightning and New Jersey Devils shifts to the Prudential Center for Game 3 Monday night, one team espouses change while the other is quite fine with the status quo.

It is not hard to determine which team is which after the Lightning held serve on home ice, winning the first two games. Now it's up to the Devils to change the narrative as the series shifts to Newark, but that may be easier said than done.

Alex Killorn scored two goals and the Lightning cruised to a 5-3 win over the Devils on Sunday to take a 2-0 series lead in the opening round of the playoffs. << Box score

TAMPA, Fla. -- The shutdown line for the Tampa Bay Lightning outscored New Jersey's top scoring line in Game 1 of the opening-round series between the teams.

That's a trend the Lightning look to continue heading into Saturday afternoon as the teams meet in Game 2 at Amalie Arena.

In Tampa Bay's 5-2 victory over New Jersey in the first game of the series, the Lightning held MVP candidate Taylor Hall to one point at even strength, and that was a gift-wrapped goal in the second period. Hall, along with linemates Nico Hischier and Kyle Palmieri, was kept in check with five shots on goal combined between the three, four of which came from Hall.

After falling behind 3-0 in the second period, the Devils scored two goals but couldn't complete the comeback and lose Game One of their series with the Lightning 5-2. << Box score

First period

• 15:00 TB Ondrej Palat; Assists: Ryan McDonagh, Tyler Johnson
• 19:31 TB Tyler Johnson; Assists: Ondrej Palat, Brayden Point

Second period

TAMPA, Fla. -- The Tampa Bay Lightning earned a division title by a single point on the final day of the regular season, but even the top seed in the Eastern Conference only did them so much of a favor.

The Lightning open the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs on Thursday against a New Jersey Devils team that swept them in three regular-season meetings, presenting a real challenge as Tampa Bay hopes to start a deep postseason run.

New Jersey is in the playoffs for the first time since losing in the 2012 finals, so many of the Devils players are new to the energy and urgency of playoff hockey. The Lightning don't want to make that out to be too tremendous an advantage.

Alex Ovechkin scored two goals and the Capitals defeated the Devils by a score of 5-3 in the regular season finale on Saturday at Capital One Arena. << Box score

WASHINGTON -- With their first Stanley Cup playoff berth since 2012 safely in hand, the New Jersey Devils have one game left to see if they can improve their position when they visit the Washington Capitals on Saturday night.

The Devils clinched a playoff place after beating the Maple Leafs 2-1 behind goals from Pavel Zacha and Miles Wood. << Box score

First period

• 6:56 TOR William Nylander (PPG); Assists: Patrick Marleau, Auston Matthews

Second period

Of all the things the New Jersey Devils could deliver their fans on Fan Appreciation Night Thursday at the Prudential Center, clinching a spot in the 2018 Stanley Cup playoffs is at the top of the list.

With a magic number of two points coming into play Thursday, the preferred method of securing a postseason berth is a victory over the visiting Toronto Maple Leafs, even though there are other scenarios involving the ninth-place Florida Panthers in which New Jersey would clinch, as well.

"We don't want to count on anyone else," said Devils winger Kyle Palmieri.

Taylor Hall had two goals and two assists to help the Devils get off to a quick start and overpower the Rangers on Tuesday night, 5-2. >> Box score

With the NHL's regular season in its final week, the New Jersey Devils and New York Rangers have differing agendas heading into Tuesday night's clash at the Prudential Center.

The Devils announced the signing of fifth-round draft pick, F Marian Studenic, to a three-year, entry-level contract that will begin next season. 

Drafted 143rd overall in the 2017 NHL Draft, Studenic is currently playing his second season in the OHL with the Hamilton Bulldogs. He tallied 48 points (20 goals, 28 assists) in 62 games this season. 

The 19-year-old Slovakian has represented his country in multiple youth tournaments, including the World Junior Championship for the past two years. 

Taylor Hall scored the game-winning shorthanded goal with 4:07 remaining in the third period as the Devils beat the Montreal Canadiens 2-1 on Sunday at Bell Centre. >> Box score

First period:

• 19:51 MON Daniel Carr (power play); Assists: Artturi Lehkonen, Mike Reilly

Second period :

• N/A

Third Period

• 0:26 NJ Nico Hischier; Assists: Sami Vatanen, Kyle Palmieri
• 15:53 NJ Taylor Hall (short handed); Assist: Travis Zajac

The New Jersey Devils can take a big step toward locking up a spot in the Stanley Cup playoffs for the first time in six seasons with a win against the Montreal Canadiens at Bell Centre on Sunday.

Taylor Hall scored back-to-back goals in a high-scoring second period and Blake Coleman scored the decisive goal in the third period to fuel the Devils to a 4-3 win over the Islanders on Saturday night.  >> Box score

The New Jersey Devils have held a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference every day since winning their season opener on Oct. 7.

Yet with only five games remaining on their schedule, the Devils are clinging to the eighth and final playoff berth in the East, trying to stave off a late-season push by the surging Florida Panthers.

On Saturday night at the Prudential Center, the Devils (40-28-9) look to take another step closer to their first playoff appearance in six years when they host the New York Islanders (32-36-10).

The Penguins outlast the Devils 4-3 in overtime after a back-and-forth contest. Sidney Crosby scored the game-winner for the Penguins while Taylor Hall scored his 34th goal of the season for the Devils. << Box score

First period

• 12:19 NJD Kyle Palmieri; Assist: Nico Hischier
• 12:44 PIT Conor Sheary; Assists: Jamie Oleksiak, Patric Hornqvist

Second period

New Jersey and Pittsburgh have met three times this season and the surprising Devils knocked off the defending Stanley Cup champion Penguins each time.

Thursday night at the Prudential Center, the Devils look to finish a sweep of the four-game season series when they host the Penguins.

"We've played some of the best teams in the league and hung tough with them," said Devils center Blake Coleman, also referring to his club's perfect record against the East-leading Tampa Bay Lightning. "Games against teams like this, good teams are going to have big pushes and it's how you handle those pushes. We've done a good job with that and found different ways to win."

Kyle Palmieri scored two goals and helped kickstart a third period rally to fuel a 4-3 win over the Hurricanes on Tuesday night. >> Box score

Coming off victories against a pair of the league's best teams in their last two games, the New Jersey Devils can ill afford a letdown Tuesday night when they host the Carolina Hurricanes at the Prudential Center.

Nico Hischer and Kyle Palmieri scored goals and Keith Kinkaid saved 35 of 36 shots to help keep the Devils hold on for a 2-1 win over the Lightning on Saturday.  >> Box score

NEWARK, N.J. -- This season's edition of the Tampa Bay Lightning owns the team record for wins and is likely to set the team record for points.

Taylor Hall, who notched his career high in points with two assists earlier, collected one more with an overtime winner to defeat the Penguins, 4-3, on the road. >> Box score

New Jersey (37-28-8) is on the playoff bubble, seven points behind Pittsburgh. The Devils will be ending a six-game road trip, having lost two in row after winning the first three. That includes a 6-2 thrashing Tuesday at San Jose in their most recent outing. << Read more

Taylor Hall notched his 32nd goal of the season on Tuesday night, but the Devils were not match for the Sharks in San Jose as New Jersey suffered a 6-2 defeat. Cory Schneider was pulled in the middle of the second period. >> Box score

First period:

• 5:32 SJ Eric Fehr; Assists: Paul Martin, Brent Burns
• 11:19 NJ Taylor Hall; Assist: Drew Stafford
• 12:25 SJ Joe Pavelski (power play); Assists: Kevin Labanc, Brent Burns
• 15:14 SJ Jannik Hansen; Assists: Barclay Goodrow, Dylan DeMelo

Second period :

• 10:38 SJ Barclay Goodrow; Assist: Brenden Dillon
• 11:18 SJ Logan Couture; Assist: Brenden Dillon
• 18:20 SJ Mikkel Boedker (power play); Assists: Chris Tierney, Brent Burns

Third Period

• 18:24 NJ Blake Coleman; Assists: Patrick Maroon, Drew Stafford

The Devils' late push fell short as New Jersey lost to the Anaheim Ducks 4-2 on the road Sunday night. >> Box score

First period:

• 1:14 ANA Ryan Getzlaf
• 6:37 ANA Jakob Silfverberg; Assists: Josh Manson, Hampus Lindholm

Second period :

• 10:31 NJ Kyle Palmieri (power play); Assists: Travis Zajac, Taylor Hall

Third Period

• 7:55 ANA Brandon Montour (power play); Assists: Getzlaf, Rickard Rakell
• 10:05 NJ Patrick Maroon; Assists: Sami Vatanen, Stefan Noesen
• 10:51 ANA Rickard Rakell; Assists: Cam Fowler, Marcus Pettersson

The Anaheim Ducks will have a chance Sunday to do what the rival Los Angeles Kings could not do -- grab two points from the New Jersey Devils.

The teams met once earlier this season in New Jersey and the Devils prevailed 5-3.

The Devils jumped out to a 2-0 lead and Keith Kinkaid saved all 38 shots to keep the Kings off the board in a 3-0 shutout victory on Saturday at the Stapes Center. >> Box Score

The New Jersey Devils and Los Angeles Kings enter their game Saturday afternoon at Staples Center in similar situations.

They're both clinging to playoff spots, but might also have the opportunity to move up in the standings.

The Devils hold the second wild card into the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the Eastern Conference, three points in front of the Florida Panthers, who host the Edmonton Oilers about two hours before the Devils play the Kings.

After going up big early, the Devils didn't look back and ran all over the Pacific Division-leading Golden Knights, 8-3.

LAS VEGAS -- The milestones just keep on coming for the expansion Vegas Golden Knights.

The Pacific Division leaders return home to host the New Jersey Devils on Wednesday night at T-Mobile after an impressive 4-1 road trip on the east coast that was capped by a 3-2 victory at Philadelphia on Monday night.

That win gave the Golden Knights (45-19-5) 45 points on the road, breaking the NHL record for an expansion team (44) set by the Florida Panthers in 1993-94 with five more road dates still left on the schedule. >> Read more

Brian Boyle scored the decisive goal in a shootout to help the Devils defeat the Predators, 3-2, on Saturday night << Box score

Taylor Hall's club-record 26-game point streak ended Thursday night in the New Jersey Devils' 3-2 loss to the Winnipeg Jets.

Hall will try to get back on the scoresheet against the NHL's hottest team Saturday night when New Jersey starts a potentially season-defining six-game road trip against the Nashville Predators at Bridgestone Arena.

Hall's 30 goals and 44 assists have landed him squarely in the middle of Hart Trophy conversation. For Hall to become the favorite to win the award, he probably needs a big finish that lifts the Devils (34-26-8) into a surprising Eastern Conference playoff bid.

As a 19-year-old rookie from Switzerland, Nico Hischier has had to acclimate himself with the physical grind of the NHL. 

The no. 1 overall pick has been durable this season as he has played in each of the Devils' 68 games so far this year. He admits that the NHL is incomparable to any other league in the world.

"It's tough for sure," Hischier said, via Chris Ryan of NJ.com. "There are some tough battles, but I think unlike any league like that, at the end of the year it gets harder. You can't compare other leagues. It's tough but you've just got to find a way to help the team."

The Devils lose to the Jets 3-2 as Taylor Hall's point streak comes to an end at 26 games. Nico Hischier had a hand in both Devils goals with a goal and an assist. << Box score

First period:

• 4:12 WPG Patrik Laine; Assists: Nikolaj Ehlers, Paul Stastny

Second period:

Thursday night could be a real goaltenders nightmare as several of the league's hottest scoring threats take to the ice when the New Jersey Devils host the Winnipeg Jets at the Prudential Center.

The Devils (34-25-8) feature the scorching Taylor Hall, who has at least one point in every game he's played since the calendar flipped to 2018. After picking up a pair of assists in Tuesday's 6-4 victory over the Montreal Canadiens, Hall has points in a league season-high 19 consecutive games since coming back from an injury, and has at least one point in 26 straight appearances.

"He's been far and away MVP for us," Devils center Brian Boyle said of Hall, who leads the team with a career-high 30 goals and 74 points. "He's an MVP candidate. He should be at the top of the list, in my opinion. What he's done is remarkable."

The Devils opened the game with four straight goals and held on for a 6-4 win over the Canadiens on Tuesday night.  >> Box score

NEWARK, N.J. -- The last 25 times Taylor Hall has taken the ice, he has registered at least one point. In the last 30 years, he's in select company as the eighth different player to put together a streak this long.

Taylor Hall recorded at least one point in his 25th straight game but the Devils lost to the Vegas Golden Knights 3-2 on Sunday at Prudential Center. >> Box score

First period:

• N/A

Second period:

• 4:39 LV David Perron; Assists: Tomas Hyka, Jon Merrill
• 8:44 NJ Sami Vatanen (power play); Assists: Taylor Hall, Patrick Maroon
• 11:17 LV Deryk Engelland; Assists: Shea Theodore, Ryan Reaves
• 17:43 LV Tomas Tatar (power play); Assists: David Perron, Colin Miller
• 17:55 NJ Hall

Third period:

• N/A

NEWARK, N.J. -- The points are piling up for Taylor Hall, but the wins aren't necessarily accompanying his production for the New Jersey Devils.

Though Taylor Hall continued his point streak, the Devils fell to the Hurricanes, 3-1, on the road Friday. >> Box score

Second period:

• 11:50 CAR Derek Ryan; Assists: Victor Rask, Noah Hanifin
• 19:27 NJD Taylor Hall (Power Play); Assists: Sami Vatanen, Kyle Palmieri

The Devils weren't so fortunate Thursday night with a 3-2 loss at Florida. But in that game, Taylor Hall extended the NHL's longest points streak this season by scoring a goal. >> Read more

Taylor Hall's career-high 28th extended his streak of games with a point to 16, establishing a new club record, but Aleksander Barkov scored twice to give the Panthers a 3-2 win over the Devils on Thursday night at BB&T Center. >> Box score

First period:

• 6:51 FLA Aleksander Barkov; Assists: Evgenii Dadonov, Alexander Petrovic

Second Period

• 0:50 NJD Taylor Hall (PP); Assists: Patrick Maroon, Sami Vatanen

Third Period

•  8:38 FLA Maxim Mamin Assists: Jared McCann, Aaron Ekblad
• 16:25 FLA Barkov; Assists: Dadonov, Nick Bjugstad
• 17:53 NJD Jesper Bratt; Assists: Maroon

Taylor Hall's power play goal against the Panthers on Thursday night extended his point streak to 16 consecutive games, establishing a new club record. 

Patrick Elias (1999-00) and Brian Gionta (2005-06) held the previous mark with a point in 15 straight games.

Hall has actually tallied a point in 23 consecutive contests, but he missed three games during that time with an injured finger. Hall has actually tallied a point in 23 consecutive contests, but he missed three games during that time with an injured finger and the NHL considers the streak interrupted. 

The 26-year-old has scored 16 goals and notched 17 assists during his unofficial 23-game streak