It's been an ugly first two periods at the St. Pete Times Forum as the New Jersey Devils have raced out to a 5-2 lead after two periods. While the Lightning have peppered Jersey goalie Johan Hedberg with 27 shots through two periods, the Devils have the three goal lead despite ten less shots on net. Dwayne Roloson got the start in goal for the Bolts, but he has already been replaced by Mathieu Garon.
Zach Parise has been huge for the Devils, breaking a 2-2 tie and giving New Jersey a two goal lead with his 9th score of the season and a beautiful assist on Ilya Kovalchuck's 9th of the year. Steve Downie and Blair Jones tallied Tampa's two goals, evening it up after the Bolts fell behind by two just six minutes into the first. But the Devils would take it right back in an uninspired second period for Tampa.
Tonight marked the first time since 1992 that the Devils scored goals in the opening minute of both the first and second periods. The Lightning will need to break through, capitalizing on the shot disparity, to get back into the game in the third period.
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