Langenbrunner scores in final seconds to lift the Devils to 3-2 win over the Lightning

Langenbrunner lifts Devils to 3-2 win

NEWARK, N.J. — Jamie Langenbrunner scored with 38.1 seconds left in regulation to give the New Jersey Devils a 3-2 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning on Friday night.

Andy Greene sent a shot from the point that Langenbrunner deflected past Antero Niittymaki to give the Devils their seventh win in the last eight games at home, and 10th in a row against the Lightning.

Brian Rolston and Niclas Bergfors had power-play goals for New Jersey while Martin Brodeur made 22 saves.

Vincent Lecavalier and Steve Downie scored for Tampa Bay, which dropped its fourth straight game.

The game seemed headed for overtime when Tampa Bay pulled even at 2 on a power-play goal by Downie with 3 minutes remaining in regulation. Downie tucked home a perfectly-timed pass from Steve Stamkos.

Rolston and Bergfors scored power-play goals early in the third period to give the Devils a 2-1 lead.

Rolston evened the score at 1:15, the tally coming only 3 seconds after Lukas Krajicek was whistled for slashing. Rob Niedermayer won the faceoff in the Lightning zone, nudging the puck back to Rolston who fired a shot from above the left circle that caught the upper right corner of the net.

The Lightning quickly picked up two more penalties, and their third infraction of the period proved costly as Bergfors converted at 5:14. Lightning defenseman David Hale fell down on a clearing attempt with the puck dribbling to Bergfors who slammed a shot home from the slot.

Lecavalier got the game’s first goal on a wraparound at 1:26 of the second period. The Tampa Bay captain curled behind the New Jersey net, tucking the puck into the cage just inside Brodeur’s left skate.

For Lecavalier, it was only his sixth goal in 34 games dating back to last season.

There were few chances for either team in the scoreless first period. Tampa Bay had the edge in shots, 7-5, including two good opportunities late in the period.

Alex Tanguay stripped the puck from Devils defenseman Bryce Salvador, setting up Lecavalier in the slot. Salvador scrambled back into position just in time to deflect the shot.

Notes: The Devils will play at home on consecutive nights. They host the Detroit Red Wings on Saturday, hoping to have LW Jay Pandolfo (dislocated right shoulder) and D Johnny Oduya (lower body injury) back. …. Tampa Bay’s Martin St. Louis played in his 335th consecutive game, the sixth-best streak among active players. …. A pair of rookies, James Wright and Devils defenseman Matt Corrente fought to a draw at 14:02 of the first period. Corrente wasn’t done, picking up another fighting major for a brawl with Zenon Konopka at 2:48 of the second period. … The third fight of the game came at 12:20 of the second as Ryan Malone and New Jersey’s Mark Fraser squared off. It all began with Malone leveling Patrik Elias with a hard hit along the boards. Elias retaliated with a cross check before Fraser took up the fight.