Lightning Vs. Devils Final Score: Tampa Bay Goes Down 6-4

The Tampa Bay Lightning trailed just 4-3 heading into the third period against the New Jersey Devils, thanks to a hat trick by Ryan Malone. That wasn't enough for the Lightning as the Devils continued to add goals in the final period to skate away with a 6-4 win on Thursday night at home.

Alexei Ponikarovsky and David Clarkson both added goals for the Devils in the final period to put the game out of reach. The Lightning added a late goal by Trevor Smith, assisted by Tim Wallace, but that wasn't close to being enough to get Tampa Bay back in the game. With the loss, the Lightning fall back to .500 on the season.

For more on the Tampa Bay Lightning, visit SB Nation's Lightning blog Raw Charge. For more on the New Jersey Devils, visit SB Nation's Devils blog In Lou We Trust and SB Nation New York.

Lightning Vs. Devils Score Update: Despite Ryan Malone Hat Trick, New Jersey Leads 4-3 After Two Periods

The Tampa Bay Lightning are trying to stay above the .500 mark and go on a run to finish the season as they head north to take on the New Jersey Devils, but after two periods of play the Lightning trail 4-3. Tampa Bay struck first in the first period as Ryan Malone scored in the closing minute of the first period, assisted by Steven Stamkos and Victor Hedman.

After that, both teams went on a scoring frenzy. Dainius Zubrus picked up a shorthanded goal for the Devils followed by another goal by Tampa Bay's Ryan Malone to re-take the lead 2-1. Shortly after Malone's second goal, Jacob Josefson picked up another goal for the Devils to tie the game, but Malone was not finished yet. Malone score yet another goal, picking up the hat trick to give the Lightning the lead once again.

The Devils squashed the excitement quickly however, as they picked up back to back goals by Ilya Kovalchuk and Marek Zidlicky on a powerplay to re-take the lead heading into the third period.

For more on the Tampa Bay Lightning, visit SB Nation's Lightning blog Raw Charge. For more on the New Jersey Devils, visit SB Nation's Devils blog In Lou We Trust and SB Nation New York.

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