Devils Drop First Matchup to Bolts | GAME STORY

The Devils surrendered four unanswered goals in a 4-1 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning Tuesday night at Prudential Center.
Damon Severson scored the lone goal by New Jersey, which opened the scoring.
The Lightning responded with goals by Anthony Cirelli, Brandon Hagel, Alex Killorn and Nikita Kucherov.
The Devils didn't get much puck luck against Tampa Bay, while the Lightning were opportunistic with their chances. New Jersey had one goal overturned due to goaltender interference, hit three posts and missed one chance at a wide-open net.
"I can use the analogy they didn't have a lot going on, but when we gave them a chance they put it in the back of the net. When we had those chances and hit the posts, we didn't put it in the back of the net," head coach Lindy Ruff said. "The opportunities that we presented them, they put it in the back of the net."
The Devils will host the Lightning again at home Thursday night.
"You have to use games as lessons. We have to use this game as a lesson," Ruff said. "We have to take a little of what they did. They didn't break down when it was 1-0. They give us 2-on-1s. We handed them some Grade-A opportunities."

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The Devils host the Lightning in the grudge match Thursday night at home. The game can be seen on MSGSN and heard on the Devils Hockey Network, including right here at NewJerseyDevils.com. Puck drop is 7:08 p.m. ET.
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Here are some observations from the game...
- Severson scored the game's opening goal, tallying on a rebound while standing right at the blue paint. You don't often see a defenseman as the net-front, but it's partially by design. When Jack Hughes has the puck in the offensive zone, he loves to weave all through the landscape. On occasion, he'll find himself patrolling the blue line. When that happens, the Devils defensemen can either get out of his way and remain at their position or they can rotate down into a "forward" role down low. Severson opted for the latter and so he was standing at the side of the net after Timo Meier's shot came right to him on a rebound for the tap in. - The Devils though they had a two-goal lead when Ryan Graves' shot sailed into the top of the net. However, at the point the puck was entering the goal, New Jersey's Tomas Tatar was in contact with Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy. Although Tatar was being nudged by Brayden Point, he didn't do much to halt himself from contacting Vasilevskiy. The call could have gone either way, but unfortunately for the Devils, it didn't go their way. - In the first period, the Devils have a lot of action from their defensemen. Severson scored a goal. Graves scored a goal (though it was later disallowed). Dougie Hamilton hit two posts while John Marino hit one post. The blueliners were active with putting pucks on the net. - Goaltender Vitek Vanecek gave up three goals on seven shots in the second period, including the final one with .8 seconds left. Instead of switching goalies for the third period, Ruff stuck with Vanecek, who stopped all 11 in the final frame.

"He wasn't the guy turning pucks over and he wasn't the guy giving up the shorthanded goal," Ruff said. "You can always go to the goaltender. ... That is not on our goaltender."

- Forward Curtis Lazar made his Devils debut. And I do believe Devils fans are going to love him. He was physical, emotional and gritty. He threw a big check into Victor Hedman that drew an applause from the crowd. He blocked a big shot in the third period. Lazar also was jawing with Pat Maroon from their respective benches. He's the type of player you want on your team. - Forward Miles Wood did not play in the third period.

"I don't have any details right now," Ruff said.