AROUND THE NHL Wednesday’s other playoff game

Lightning 3, Devils 1

NEWARK, N.J.

A feisty Nikita Kucherov scored two goals, set up another and knocked Sami Vatanen, New Jersey’s top defenseman, out of the game with a big hit as Tampa Bay moved within a game of making the Devils’ first trip to the playoffs in six years a short one. J.T. Miller (East Palestine) also scored and had two assists, and Vezina Trophy finalist Andrei Vasilevskiy stopped three breakaways in making 27 saves as the Lightning bounced back from a loss in Game 3 to tale a 3-1 lead in the first-round series. Tampa Bay can wrap up the best-of-seven series in Game 5 at home on Saturday. Kyle Palmieri scored on a 5-on-3 advantage for the Devils.

Associated Press