The Lightning have the best record in the NHL and lead the Atlantic Division with 81 points, three points ahead of the Boston Bruins. Forward Nikita Kucherov scored a goal and had three assists in a 4-1 win against the Detroit Red Wings on Thursday and leads the League in scoring with 76 points (31 goals, 45 assists) New Jersey has won its past two games and holds the first wild card into the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the Eastern Conference. The Devils lead the New York Islanders by two points and are three points ahead of the Columbus Blue Jackets and Carolina Hurricanes. New Jersey plays at Carolina on Sunday.
Players to watch
New Jersey forward Taylor Hall has 24 points (11 goals, 13 assists) in his past 16 games. Hall had 12 points (five goals, seven assists) during a seven-game point streak before missing three games because of a thumb injury; he has 12 points (six goals, six assists) during a nine-game streak since returning from the injury Jan. 30. Tampa Bay forward Alex Killorn has 11 points (six goals, five assists) in his past eight games.
They said it
"It's a good test for us, they are a really good team with some really good skill players. I'm going to try to focus on my game, there's no real pressure here. I'm going to try to stop as many pucks as I can." -- Devils goalie Eddie Lack](https://www.nhl.com/player/eddie-lack-8475663) "These guys are coming in here tonight playing really well. Kind of a revamped New Jersey Devils. Usually you know they're going to be really tight-checking and defensive. They have that and they have the element of a lot of skill and young players now." -- Lightning captain Steven Stamkos
Boyle stayed on the ice after morning skate and will be a game-time decision. Quenneville was placed on injured reserve Friday. … Point participated in the morning skate after taking Friday as a maintenance day.
Stat pack
Palmieri has nine points (six goals, three assists) in his past nine games. … Vasilevskiy is 7-2-0 with a .934 save percentage and one shutout in his past nine starts.
