Tampa Bay led 3-1 through 40 minutes, but three New Jersey goals in the first half of the third period quickly turned that lead into a deficit, as the visitors added an empty net goal to send the Bolts to a 5-3 defeat.
There were chances for the Lightning in the third, but two proved especially costly.
One of Mackenzie Blackwood's 12 third period saves came on a 2-on-0 rush when he stretched to his left to make a save on Alex Killorn with the Lightning still holding a one-goal lead.
After the Devils had climbed back in front, Brayden Point was awarded a penalty shot and drew Blackwood down with a forehand move, but his shot rang off the crossbar and stayed out.
Scoring Summary
1st Period
TBL 1, NJD 0
5:49 Jan Rutta (2) - Unassisted
The Devils tried to clear the puck along the near wall, but Jan Rutta held the play in at the right point. Rutta walked down to the top of the circle and fired a wrist shot that beat MacKenzie Blackwood with plenty of traffic clogging up the shooting lane.
TBL 1, NJD 1
13:56 Yegor Sharangovich (1) - Alexander Holtz
New Jersey tied the game with just over six minutes to play in the opening period. Alexander Holtz intercepted Victor Hedman's pass along the wall and quickly set up Yegor Sharangovich for a one-timer from just inside the left faceoff dot.
TBL 2, NJD 1
18:15 Pat Maroon (3) - Ross Colton, Mikhail Sergachev - PPG
The Lightning's power play came through on its third chance of the period with Pat Maroon scoring his third goal of the season. Ross Colton's shot from the right circle was stopped by Blackwood, but the rebound fell to Maroon in the slot, and he quickly swept home a backhander to put the Bolts back in front just before intermission.
2nd Period
TBL 3, NJD 1
6:17 Victor Hedman (3) - Boris Katchouk, Jan Rutta
Hedman's third goal of the season was set up by a beautiful cross-ice feed from Boris Katchouk. From the far wall, Katchouk threaded a pass through the middle of the ice to Hedman, who had cycled down from the point. No Devils skaters were on the left side of the ice, giving Hedman plenty of time to pick out a spot for his well-placed wrist shot.
3rd Period
TBL 3, NJD 2
1:12 Dawson Mercer (6) - Yegor Sharangovich, Jonas Siegenthaler
It looked like Dawson Mercer was going to attempt a wraparound but noticed Vasilevskiy had been pulled away from his crease. Instead of circling the net, Mercer cut back in front at the near post and slipped the puck past Vasilevskiy's outstretched pad to make it a one-goal game.
TBL 3, NJD 3
5:39 Jimmy Vesey (4) - PK Subban, Jonas Siegenthaler
Just over four minutes after Mercer's goal, Jimmy Vesey elevated a backhander over Vasilevskiy on a breakaway to tie the game at three.
NJD 4, TBL 3
9:34 Yegor Sharangovich (2) - Jesper Bratt
Jesper Bratt knifed his way through the Lightning defense and fired a shot that was turned away by Vasilevskiy. Bratt went into the corner to gather is own rebound and fed Sharangovich at the left circle for a shot that squeaked through under Vasilevskiy's pad.
NJD 5, TBL 3
18:44 Tomas Tatar (2) - Ryan Graves - ENG
Tomas Tatar put to rest any hope of a Lightning comeback with an empty netter in the closing minutes.
Up Next
The Lightning face the Wild in the second half of the weekend back-to-back. It'll be Hockey Fights Cancer Night at Amalie Arena with puck drop set for 5 p.m.
