Dec 19, 2014; Newark, NJ, USA; Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Radko Gudas (7) and New Jersey Devils right wing Stephen Gionta (11) battle during the second period at Prudential Center. Mandatory Credit: Ed Mulholland-USA TODAY Sports
The Tampa Bay Lightning erased a 2-0 deficit but fell to the New Jersey Devils 3-2 in the shootout Friday night.
Steven Stamkos, Nikita Kucherov and Jonathan Drouin all failed to score in the shootout while Patrik Elias converted to give Devils rookie goaltender Keith Kinkaid his first NHL win.
Tampa Bay is now 1-4 in shootouts this season.
After falling behind 2-0 in the first period thanks to goals by Adam Henrique and Elias, the Lightning got on the board with 5:05 left in the second as Stamkos found a loose puck in the crease and buried it into the net.
The Bolts, who had squandered a four-minute power play earlier in the third, got the game-tying goal from Kucherov with 40.1 seconds to play.
Ryan Callahan assisted on both Lightning goals while Evgeni Nabokov made 16 saves in goal. Tampa Bay went 0-for-5 with the man advantage as their power play continues to struggle.
Radko Gudas and Ondrej Palat returned to the line-up after missing three and four games respectively. However, Tyler Johnson missed his first game of the season due to stomach flu. Mark Barberio was scratched.
The Lightning will complete their five-game road trip Saturday night with a trip to Long Island to face the Islanders.