The New Jersey Devils, coming off a 6-3 loss in their opener against the Carolina Hurricanes, look to rebound tonight in Tampa Bay against the Lightning, who also sit at 0-1-0 after dropping their home opener to the Ottawa Senators. Both teams enter with questions around early-season execution. Sheldon Keefe & Co., aim to tighten defensively after allowing six goals in Raleigh, while the Lightning seek to ignite their offense at Amalie Arena.

Let’s dive into tonight’s matchup.

READ MORE: Carolina Curse: How Can the Devils Overcome Their Division Rival?

What to Know vs. Lightning

— The Devils host Tampa, and conclude their regular-season series, on December 11.

—New Jersey’s penalty kill ranked second last season (82.7%), but went 1-for-4 in Game 1—tonight’s test comes against Tampa’s No. 1-ranked PP from 2024-25 (27.1%).

—Jack Hughes (0G, 1A in opener) and Jesper Bratt (1G, 1A) combined for two points; the duo has 45 points in 12 career games vs. TBL.

—Jacob Markstrom (5.08 GAA, .844 SV% in debut) faces Andrei Vasilevskiy (.879 SV%, 4.07 GAA), with the Devils holding a 7-3-0 edge in the last 10 meetings.

— The Devils and Tampa face-off for the first of three matchups in 2025-26, while Jersey’s team visits Tampa again on November 18.

— New Jersey recorded a 1-2-0 record against the Bolts last season.

— Jack Hughes led New Jersey with five points (2g-3a) against the Bolts last season.

— Timo Meier and Stefan Noesen also chipped in two goals against Tampa last season.

2025-26 vs. Lightning

10/11/25 TBD Amalie Arena
11/18/25 TBD Amalie Arena
12/11/25 TBD Prudential Center

Devils vs. Lightning

All-time Record: 62-36-7-9
Home Record: 36-17-2-4
Road Record: 26-19-5-5

Projected Devils Lineup*
Forwards

Ondrej Palat – Jack Hughes – Jesper Bratt

Timo Meier – Nico Hischier – Dawson Mercer

Arseny Gritsyuk – Cody Glass – Connor Brown

Paul Cotter – Luke Glendening – Zack MacEwen

Defensemen

Luke Hughes – Brett Pesce

Dougie Hamilton – Jonas Siegenthaler

Brenden Dillon – Simon Nemec

Goaltenders

Jacob Markstrom

Jake Allen

*Lineup subject to change

Current Injuries: Stefan Noesen (Lower-body, out since Oct. 9), Johnathan Kovacevic (Lower-body, out since Oct. 9), Marc McLaughlin (Upper-body, out since Oct. 9), Seamus Casey (Lower-body, out since Oct. 9). Evgenii Dadonov (hand fracture, out sine Oct. 9) 2025-26 Total Man-Games Lost: 4

Projected Lightning Lineup*
Forwards

Jake Guentzel – Brayden Point – Nikita Kucherov

Brandon Hagel – Anthony Cirelli – Gage Goncalves

Conor Geekie – Yanni Gourde – Oliver Bjorkstrand

Curtis Douglas – Pontus Holmberg – Mitchell Chaffee

Defensemen

Victor Hedman – Maxwell Crozier

Ryan McDonagh – Erik Cernak

Emil Lilleberg – Darren Raddysh

Goaltenders

Andrei Vasilevskiy

Jonas Johansson

*Lineup subject to change

Injured Reserve: Nick Paul (L, undisclosed), Zemgus Girgensons (C, undisclosed).

Suspended: J.J. Moser (D, boarding)

How to Watch the Devils Game—7:00 P.M. ET

Watch: MSGSN2

Radio: DEVILS HOCKEY NET

Next Up

Mon., Oct. 13 At CBJ 7:00 P.M. E.T.
Thu., Oct. 16 Vs FLA 7:00 P.M. E.T.
Sat., Oct. 18 Vs EDM 3:30 P.M. E.T.
Tue., Oct. 21 At TOR 7:00 P.M. E.T.
Wed., Oct. 22 Vs MIN 7:00 P.M. E.T.

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James is the New Jersey Devils beat reporter for New Jersey Hockey Now on Sportsnaut and the PHWAs New … More about James Nichols