Lightning beat Devils in OT
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Tampa, FL (SportsNetwork.com) - Tyler Johnson scored a power-play goal 82 seconds into overtime to lift the Tampa Bay Lightning to a 4-3 win over the New Jersey Devils on Thursday.
With Mark Fraser off for New Jersey because of a tripping call with 18 seconds left in regulation, Johnson scored the winner from a sharp angle to the left of New Jersey goaltender Keith Kinkaid.
Steven Stamkos, Johnson and Nikita Nesterov also scored in regulation and Ben Bishop made 21 saves for the Lightning, who remained two points behind Montreal for first place in the Atlantic Division after the Canadiens beat Detroit in overtime.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Tampa Bay will finish the regular season at home against Boston on Friday.
Steve Bernier had two goals and Patrik Elias scored for New Jersey, which has lost three in a row and nine of the last 10 heading into the last game of the season.
Kinkaid gave up four goals on 31 shots.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"We had too many penalties," Devils interim co-coach Lou Lamoriello said. "You can't take eight penalties...especially against a team like that."
The Devils, out of the playoffs for the third consecutive season, will end the season on the road against Florida on Saturday.
The Lightning scored three power-play goals, including Stamkos' with 2:18 left in the second period on a one-timer from the left circle off Ondrej Palat's pass across the slot.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}But Bernier tied it for New Jersey just 16 seconds later on a snap shot from the slot.
"I didn't like the goals we gave up," Lightning head coach Jon Cooper said. "We were way too (relaxed) defensively."
Johnson also had an assist while Ondrej Palat and Nikita Kucherov added three helpers each.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Adam Henrique and Scott Gomez had two assists apiece for New Jersey.
Game Notes
The Devils won the first two meetings this season and had taken four of the last five games against the Lightning ... The Lightning had eight power plays.