In a thrilling match-up in Newark, N.J., the Tampa Bay Lightning showcased a dominant performance as they defeated the New Jersey Devils 8-5 on Tuesday night. Brandon Hagel stole the show with a sensational hat trick, his second of his career, leading the Lightning to victory.
Victor Hedman also made a significant impact on the game by scoring two goals, while Brayden Point, Jake Guentzel, and Janis Moser added to the goal tally. Anthony Cirelli demonstrated his playmaking abilities with four assists, and goalie Jonas Johansson made 28 saves to secure the win.
On the other side, Timo Meier netted two goals for the Devils, with Jack Hughes, Nathan Bastian, and Stefan Noessen each contributing one goal. Despite their efforts, New Jersey struggled to contain the Lightning’s offensive prowess.
The game turned in favor of Tampa Bay when they scored five consecutive goals in the second period, including three from the unstoppable Hagel. Moser’s impressive short-handed goal in the third period further solidified the Lightning’s lead.
Following a tough loss to the Maple Leafs in Toronto the previous night, the Lightning displayed resilience and determination against the Devils. Head coach Jon Cooper praised his team’s performance, stating, “The way we responded after last night’s loss was exceptional. Our offense was firing on all cylinders.”
New Jersey, on the other hand, continues to struggle at home with a 1-2-1 record and a goal differential of -3 in four games. Coach Lindy Ruff lamented his team’s defensive lapses, acknowledging, “We need to tighten up defensively and limit the opponents’ chances if we want to compete at a high level.”
The key moment in the game came when Tampa Bay scored five unanswered goals in the second period to take a commanding 6-2 lead. Hagel’s hat trick, completed with goals at 9:27, 13:01, and 15:52, left the Devils reeling and unable to mount a comeback.
With their victory over the Devils, the Lightning send a statement to the rest of the league that they are a force to be reckoned with. As they continue to gel as a team and showcase their firepower on offense, Tampa Bay looks poised to make a deep playoff run this season.