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Red-hot Devils face Lightning, look for fourth straight win

Jan 18, 2007 - 3:36 PM Tampa Bay (24-22-2) at New Jersey (28-14-4) 7:30 pm EST

EAST RUTHERFORD, New Jersey (Ticker) -- Things just keep getting better for the New Jersey Devils.

Owners of a 10-point cushion in the Atlantic Division, the Devils look to keep climbing up the Eastern Conference standings when they host the Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday.

Winners of three straight games, New Jersey is 9-1-1 in its last 11 contests and has reeled off a trio of three-game winning streaks during the impressive stretch. With a win Thursday, the Devils would inch closer to their season-high winning streak of five games from December 1-9.

New Jersey has tallied a total of just five times during its current run but is still tied with Atlanta (26-14-8) for second place in the conference with 60 points.

In the first contest of a three-game homestand Tuesday, New Jersey blanked the rival New York Rangers, 1-0. Martin Brodeur made 26 saves to record his league-leading eighth shutout this season and 88th career.

The Lightning had their four-game winning streak snapped on Tuesday in a 4-2 loss to Toronto. They will look to start a new streak on Thursday in their first matchup with the Devils this season.