New Jersey
How Lightning recaptured playoff-winning form in New York/New Jersey
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/PWT43E66LWAJ5L4RFYOKWDP7TE.jpg?ssl=1 "How Lightning recaptured playoff-winning form in New York/New Jersey")
NEWARK, N.J. â Inside the Lightning locker room, the postseason already has begun.
Though 22 games remain on their regular-season schedule, they have to outlast several teams chasing them to make the playoffs. This Lightning team is a different group from the one that won consecutive Stanley Cups in 2020 and â21, but the core remembers what it takes to win in the postseason.
If the Lightning do make the postseason and have another deep run, back-to-back road wins over the Islanders and Devils this weekend, capped by Sundayâs 4-1 victory over New Jersey at Prudential Center, might be what they look back on as when their season became playoff-ready.
âIt was huge,â said defenseman Victor Hedman, who had a goal and an assist against the Devils and was one of three Lightning players who were plus-4. âWe really played desperate, and we played to our structure. We didnât cheat the game, and we played to our strengths.â
Things can change quickly at this time of the season, and the Lightning (32-23-5, 69 points) are now trending in the right direction.
After dropping three straight at home, Tampa Bay allowed three total goals in the two road wins. It took early leads and held them, earning four huge points against teams that are chasing them in the Eastern Conference standings and have games in hand.
âA lot of things have worked,â coach Jon Cooper said. âI think first and foremost, itâs our mindset and what it takes to win in the league and what it takes to win down the stretch. When you give up two goals a game or one goal a game, good things are going to happen.
âWeâre just playing the right way. Weâre not cheating for offense, weâre not beating ourselves, and thatâs something weâve done, especially on that homestand. Guys have made a conscious effort to make sure thatâs not happening, and you can see the results.â
Hereâs how the Lightning recaptured playoff-winning hockey Sunday in New Jersey.
The stars led the way
To win in the postseason, a teamâs best players have to be great, and the Lightningâs Nikita Kucherov has been one of the leagueâs top playoff performers over the past four seasons.
This year he has been all-world all season, and with a four-point day Sunday (one goal, three assists), he has a league-leading 102 points. Kucherov became the second active player since 1992-93 to reach 100 points in 60 games or fewer, joining Oilers superstar Connor McDavid, who did it last season.
After being held without a shot on goal in a scoreless first period, the Lightningâs top line of Brandon Hagel, Brayden Point and Kucherov took over the game in the second, putting Tampa Bay ahead 2-1. The trio posted 10 of the Lightningâs 17 even-strength shots on goal over the final 40 minutes, and Hagel cleaned up a loose puck in front of the net 9:38 into the third to give Tampa Bay a 3-1 lead and the breathing room it needed.
Stay updated on Tampa Bayâs sports scene
Subscribe to our free Sports Today newsletter
Weâll send you news and analysis on the Bucs, Lightning, Rays and Floridaâs college football teams every day.
Youâre all signed up!
Want more of our free, weekly newsletters in your inbox? Letâs get started.
Explore all your options
Kucherov assisted on each of the Lightningâs first three goals, by Hedman, Point and Hagel, then scored into an empty net with 1:35 remaining to seal the win. He has factored into each of the Lightningâs last seven goals dating to Saturdayâs 4-2 win over the Islanders.
âHe keeps doing it, day in and day out,â said Hagel, who had a goal and two assists. âHeâs a special player. Itâs fun to watch. I have a front-row seat for myself. Heâs a competitor; he wants to win. He wants to get into the playoffs. He wants to win another Stanley Cup, and the way he plays, his work ethic, the forecheck, shows you why heâs doing what heâs doing.â
Holding the line
In the playoffs, a team needs to know how to close out games, and the Lightning did an impressive job of protecting the middle of the ice and preventing dangerous scoring chances. They contested shots, blocking 25 (Hedman had six, defenseman Calvin de Haan five), and held the blue line down the stretch to prevent the Devils from entering their zone. New Jersey had just three shots on goal in the third period.
âWe sacrificed our body a lot and got into shooting lanes and had some good blocks when we needed to,â Hedman said. âThatâs what good teams do. You find ways to win.â
It made for an easier day for goaltender Jonas Johansson, who stopped the Devilsâ last eight shots after Tyler Toffoliâs power-play goal 6:01 into the second period. Johansson, starting for just the sixth time in almost three months, stopped 18 of the 19 shots he faced, improving to 3-3-0 since his playing time became more sporadic following Andrei Vasilevskiyâs return from back surgery in mid-November.
Winning at even strength
The Lightning have the best power play in the league, and at times they can rely too much on the man advantage for offense.
But in recent weeks, the power play has gone dry. The Lightning are 2-for-15 over their last six games, a 13.3% clip that is a far cry from their NHL-best 29.8% success rate they had going into Sunday.
It was a different story against the Devils. Aside from Kucherovâs empty-netter, all the Lightningâs goals came at even strength.
âIn the end, if you make the playoffs, oftentimes there are lots of power plays in the first round, but ultimately as the playoffs go on, power plays dry up,â Cooper said. âYouâve got to round out your 5-on-5 game if you want to go anywhere in this league.â
Contact Eduardo A. Encina at eencina@tampabay.com. Follow @EddieintheYard.
⢠⢠â¢
Sign up for the Sports Today newsletter to get daily updates on the Bucs, Rays, Lightning and college football across Florida.
Never miss out on the latest with your favorite Tampa Bay sports teams. Follow our coverage on Instagram, X and Facebook.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/XYQG7W7ZO5GJRFT5UJFFM33CZU.jpg?w=400&resize=400,240&ssl=1 "3 questions from Florida State, ACC lawsuit court case in Tallahassee")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/XYQG7W7ZO5GJRFT5UJFFM33CZU.jpg?w=80&resize=80,80&ssl=1 "3 questions from Florida State, ACC lawsuit court case in Tallahassee")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/CH5AXXIBRJCBVBVR4JBECUBV6U.jpg?w=400&resize=400,240&ssl=1 "Florida Gators coach Billy Napier’s first remarks on Elijhah Badger transfer")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/CH5AXXIBRJCBVBVR4JBECUBV6U.jpg?w=80&resize=80,80&ssl=1 "Florida Gators coach Billy Napier’s first remarks on Elijhah Badger transfer")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/GABA53Q755DDZGBKUAXMW3YBUA.JPG?w=400&resize=400,240&ssl=1 "Blake boys fall to Miami Norland in Class 5A state championship game")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/GABA53Q755DDZGBKUAXMW3YBUA.JPG?w=80&resize=80,80&ssl=1 "Blake boys fall to Miami Norland in Class 5A state championship game")
Blacksmith Triangle, the site of a former gas station at the corner of North Olden and Lawrence avenues in Trenton, has taken on a new life as the city’s latest green space.
New Jersey Conservation Foundation (NJ Conservation), in partnership with the City of Trenton and other environmental and community organizations, worked to transform the site into a forested park addition over the last two years. Improvements included site clearing and grading, seeding, new sidewalks, bollards, a brick-paved entry plaza, and 14 honey locust trees. The project’s completion was celebrated in May.
The City remediated Blacksmith Triangle years ago to clean up the contamination left behind from its former use as a gas station. But until recently it remained covered with concrete and asphalt and was often used as a de facto parking lot. In 2024, NJ Conservation received a grant from the Licensed Site Remediation Professionals Association Foundation to plant trees on the site, which spurred conversations with Trenton officials about turning the lot into a forested plaza and gateway to George Page Park and the Assunpink Greenway. Construction began in December 2025, thanks to a significant financial contribution from the City of Trenton and additional funding secured by NJ Conservation from private donors.
With this new green space, project leaders aim to increase shade for city residents, who are experiencing disproportionate impacts of climate change. Trenton neighborhoods are dealing with the ‘heat island effect’ that causes higher ambient temperatures in urban areas than in suburban and rural areas.
“Excessive heat is deadly in our communities, and this work will help future generations of Trentonians cope with the rising temperatures that will come with our new climate realities,” said Jay Watson, NJ Conservation’s Senior Fellow for Conservation Justice. “New Jersey Conservation Foundation is proud to do this green infrastructure work in our capital city.”
At a grand opening celebration for Blacksmith Triangle last month, Paul Harris, Trenton’s Director of Recreation, Natural Resources, and Culture, said the City is excited about the lot’s transformation, highlighting the partnership that made the project possible.
“Our goal is to green as much of the town as we can, but in order to do that successfully, we need to bring on partners,” said Harris.
The revitalization of Blacksmith Triangle is part of a larger greening effort throughout the city. NJ Conservation and its partners — City of Trenton, Isles, the New Jersey Tree Foundation, the Watershed Institute, and the Outdoor Equity Alliance — are working to build a greener, more equitable New Jersey through the Trees for Trenton program. Thanks to a grant from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, 1,000 shade trees are being planted throughout Trenton, creating a healthier environment for residents and visitors.
Trees for Trenton was announced in 2023 at an Arbor Day celebration when the first trees were planted at Mulberry Street Park. More than 900 trees have been planted throughout the city since then.
(Courtesy of New Jersey Conservation Foundation)
About New Jersey Conservation Foundation
Recognizing that a healthy environment is critical to the well-being and survival of all living things, New Jersey Conservation Foundation is devoted to preserving land and protecting natural resources throughout New Jersey’s rural, suburban, and urban landscapes.
Since 1960, the nonprofit, nonpartisan, statewide organization has preserved more than 140,000 acres of open space, farmland, and parks. The organization manages more than a dozen nature preserves, conducts public outreach and education programs, and advocates for sensible land use and climate policies that will protect the health of New Jersey’s plants, wildlife, and people for generations to come.
Courtesy of New Jersey Conservation Foundation
How to protect your NJ home from wind: Video
Here’s how to windproof your home to minimize damage, and what to do if a tree falls on your property as a result of the weather
A severe thunderstorm watch looms over North Jersey on the evening of June 12 after days of extreme heat.
Nation Weather Service New York declared a severe thunderstorm watch for numerous North Jersey counties including Bergen, Passaic, Hudson, Essex, Morris and Sussex among other Central Jersey and New York counties. The watch is in effect until 9 p.m., according to the NWS statement.
In an hourly forecast from The Weather Channel for Paramus, there is a 74% chance of thunderstorms at 7 p.m.
High temperatures reached past 90 degrees in many parts of North Jersey on June 11 and June 12 as a heat advisory also remains in effect until 8 p.m., said NWS New York.
“Dangerous heat is expected to continue across much of our region through today, with several record highs likely to be challenged again. High temperatures are forecast to peak into the low to mid 90s across most of the area,” the National Weather Service said Friday.
A Heat Advisory is in effect until 8 p.m. across the state except for Atlantic, Cape May, Cumberland and Salem counties.
-
Minnesota5 minutes agoWhere to watch Lynx vs. Aces today: WNBA free live stream
-
Mississippi12 minutes agoMississippi-based organization offering shower and laundry services to Saline Co. residents
-
Missouri15 minutes agoKahoka, Area Contestants to Compete at Miss Missouri and Miss Missouri’s Teen Competitions
-
Montana20 minutes agoMontana State Firefighters Memorial honors fallen firefighters at ceremony
-
Nebraska27 minutes agoKansas City-Area Wide Receiver Justyn Lindsay Commits to Nebraska
-
Nevada30 minutes agoMeet the 2026 Nevada Preps All-Southern Nevada baseball team
-
New Hampshire35 minutes agoHudson, NH, man accused of ramming couple’s SUV in drunken road‑rage incident
-
North Carolina40 minutes ago9 Old-Timey General Stores In North Carolina
