Even when they struggle, the New Jersey Devils can still beat the Tampa Bay Lightning.
New Jersey will look for its sixth straight win at the St. Pete Times Forum as they complete a home-and-home series with Tampa Bay tonight.
Despite trailing the Lightning by 33 points in the standings, the Devils have routinely beat Tampa Bay. The Lightning are a mere 1-5-6 against the Devils in their last 12 games, and haven't beat New Jersey on home ice since October 4, 2007.
The matchup followed a similar script for the Tampa Bay during Sunday's 6-3 loss to New Jersey. Ahead 2-1 after two periods, the Devils scored five goals in the third period to defeat the Lightning. It was the only the Devils' second come-from-behind victory this season.
Martin Brodeur stopped 33 shots in the victory to break a personal-worst nine game losing streak. It was his first win since a 3-0 shutout of the Phoenix Coyotes on December 15.
Devils' coach Jacques Lemaire saw Brodeur's improvements in Sunday's win and will stick with him for tonight's game.
"It's little stuff," Lemaire told Tom Gulitti of the Bergen Record. "I just feel he's more alert, he's quicker, he's getting quicker. He sees the puck better. (He's) more confident."
Dwayne Roloson, who sat out Sunday's loss, will start in net for the Lightning. Since acquiring him from the Islanders, Roloson is 3-1-0 with a 1.71 goals-against average and .946 save percentage.
New Jersey hasn't had much success in putting together win streaks this season. After a win, the Devils are 1-8-0 and have been outscored 30-4.