Having written all of that - and despite the outcome - the Lightning did play well for much of the night. Obviously, the final score is not indicative of how close the game was (the Devils scored two late empty-netters). The Lightning did a good job of getting out of their own end cleanly. They generated plenty of scoring chances. And, until they got into third period penalty trouble, they effectively limited New Jersey's chances.
The Lightning knew that the Devils would come out of the gates with a lot of jump. It was New Jersey's first home playoff game in six years and the Devils were intent on getting off to a good start. But the Lightning handled that element of the game extremely well. Outside of a couple of rush chances for New Jersey, the Lightning didn't give the Devils any looks. At the other end, the Lightning also didn't generate much in the opening frame, but their ability to neutralize the Devils' attack made it a good road period to begin the game.
Alex Killorn's power play goal early in the second sparked the Lightning. They dominated play for the next several minutes, but couldn't add to the lead. The Devils stayed quiet until the halfway point of the frame, when the Lightning went back on the man advantage. On that Lightning power play, the Devils created three shorthanded chances and grabbed momentum. That surge carried over on the shift after the penalty ended. The Lightning couldn't settle down a puck in their own zone and it bounced right to Hall in the slot. He rifled a shot into the net to tie the game.
But the Lightning pushed back immediately, creating a number of scoring chances during the next few shifts. Schneider made a handful of key saves to keep the game tied through two periods.
Like Killorn did in the opening minute of the second, Steven Stamkos netted a power play goal in the opening minute of the third to give the Lightning the lead back. But two minutes later, the Lightning took an offensive zone penalty. Then, during that kill, they had a miscue on a line change and were whistled for too many men on the ice. The Devils took advantage with Butcher's goal and the game was tied again.
Prior to Noesen's game-winner, the Lightning had several glorious chances around the net with Schneider down and on his side. This happened on two separate occasions, including one while the Lightning were shorthanded (again). But the Devils did what they could to disrupt the Lightning shot attempts and Schneider hung in there to stop a couple as well. Then, with just over seven minutes left, Hall rushed the puck into the Lightning end and slipped a cross-ice pass to Noesen, who finished a one-timer into the net.
The Lightning received a late power play chance, but couldn't tie the score. The Devils got those two empty-netters in the final minute to seal it.
Third period shots were 20-8 in favor of New Jersey. Of course, the final two were shots into an empty net. Of the other 18 New Jersey shots in the third, 10 came on their four power play chances. Those third period penalties were costly ones for the Lightning. They allowed the Devils to tie the game and prevented the Lightning from going on the attack themselves (notwithstanding the great shorthanded chance when the game was tied at two).
Now the Lightning must regroup for Game Four on Wednesday. Certainly, they'll want to limit the number of power pla opportunities for the Devils. But they'll also look to replicate the good things that they did in Game Three.
Lightning Radio Big Moment of the Game (as selected by Phil Esposito):
Butcher's five-on-three power play goal.
Lightning Radio Three Stars of the Game (as selected by Phil Esposito):
