Hagel gets natural hat trick, 4 points to power Lightning past Devils
Hedman scores twice, Cirelli has 4 assists for Tampa Bay; Meier 2 goals for New Jersey
Lightning at Devils | Recap
NEWARK, N.J. — Brandon Hagel scored a natural hat trick in the second period and the Tampa Bay Lightning won 8-5 against the New Jersey Devils at Prudential Center on Tuesday.
Hagel, who finished with four points, earned the third hat trick of his career, and second against New Jersey.
Victor Hedman had two goals, Janis Moser had a goal and two assists, Jake Guentzel had a goal and an assist, and Anthony Cirelli had four assists for the Lightning (4-2-0). Jonas Johansson made 28 saves.
Timo Meier scored two goals, Jack Hughes had a goal and two assists, and Jake Allen made 29 saves for the Devils (5-3-1).
Hughes gave the Devils a 1-0 lead on a breakaway at 11:02 of the first period.
Brayden Point tied it 1-1 with a power play goal at 14:09 on a shot from the left post.
Meier made it 2-1 on a snap shot from the slot at :51 of the second period.
Hedman tied the game 2-2 at 7:34, scoring on a wrist shot from low in the left face-off circle.
Hagel scored his first of the game for a 3-2 lead at 9:27. He pushed it to 4-2 off a rush at 13:01, and made it 5-2 on a rebound from the slot at 15:53.
Hedman scored his second of the game on a slap shot from the point for a 6-2 lead at 17:28.
Nathan Bastian scored for the Devils at 2:56 of the third period to make it 6-3. Meier pulled New Jersey within 6-4 with a power-play goal on a shot from the right circle at 5:24.
Guentzel scored a power-play goal from the slot 24 seconds later to give Tampa Bay a 7-4 lead.
Moser scored a shorthanded goal from his own zone on a clearing attempt that deflected off the boards and in after Allen went to play the puck behind his net for an 8-4 lead at 9:19.
Stefan Noesen scored a power-play goal for the Devils at 12:45 for the 8-5 final.