Lightning score 4 in first period, cruise past Devils

NEWARK, N.J. -- The Tampa Bay Lightning scored four goals in the first period en route to an 8-4 win against the New Jersey Devils at Prudential Center on Thursday.

Oliver Bjorkstrand had two goals and an assist, Nikita Kucherov had four assists, and Jonas Johansson made 33 saves for the Lightning (18-11-2), who have won two in a row after four straight losses.

"Every game you go into, you want to have a good start and that should always be a big focus," Bjorkstrand said. "That's how you want to start games."

Luke Hughes and Paul Cotter each had a goal and an assist for the Devils (17-13-1), who have lost six of their past seven games and five straight at home.

Jacob Markstrom allowed three goals on seven shots before being replaced by Jake Allen at 7:56 of the first period for the Devils. Allen made 23 saves in relief.

"It is a step back," Markstrom said. "We've got to be honest with ourselves. ... Got to look yourself in the mirror and got to be better. What did I play? Five minutes today? That's not what I want to do."

Nick Paul gave the Lightning a 1-0 lead on a snap shot from the left hash marks at 2:57 of the first period.

Just 51 seconds later, Kucherov set up Darren Raddysh at the blue line for the one-timer, which put the Lightning up 2-0 at 3:48.

Markstrom was asked if he was screened on the play. Tampa Bay's Brandon Hagel was in front of the crease.

"Whatever, it's 2-0 after five minutes. ... It can't happen," he said.

Hughes cut the lead to 2-1 at 7:00. He received a pass from Brenden Dillon before spinning away from a defender and putting a quick snap shot past Johansson.

Tampa Bay answered with a backhand goal from Pontus Holmberg from the right face-off circle to make it 3-1 at 7:56.

"I thought after 2-0 we found some push back and found our game after that," New Jersey coach Sheldon Keefe said. "Once they got that third one, that's a tough one emotionally."

Jake Guentzel scored a power-play goal from the slot to give the Lightning a 4-1 lead at 15:00.

Bjorkstrand extended it to 5-1 with a wrist shot at the left post at 6:19 of the second period.

"When you score one, you want to get another but really it starts with the defensive part and shutting them down," Bjorkstrand said. "We're able to execute, go north, and kind of build on our chances that way."

Jesper Bratt scored a power-play goal on a breakaway to pull the Devils to within 5-2 at 13:12.

"They got some pucks that went in early, and it started being uphill right from the get-go, pretty much," Bratt said. "Obviously, not the start we wanted."

Hagel scored with a snap shot during a delayed penalty to push the lead to 6-2 at 16:35.

"When we're playing our best hockey, we're not spending too much time in our defense zone, we're playing simple down there," Lightning forward Brayden Point said. "When the plays are there to be made, we're making them but if they're not, we're flipping them out."

Angus Crookshank scored his first goal for the Devils to make it 6-3 at 3:13 of the third period, but Point made it 7-3 at 7:55.

"Obviously, pucks are going in right now, which is great to see," Point said. "We've made some really solid plays, and while not necessarily the prettiest, just good, hard plays and have been able to spend some time in the other teams' defensive zone. If you spend enough time there and guys are willing to shoot the puck, it will go in."

Cotter scored to make it 7-4 at 15:28, but Bjorkstrand scored again just 29 seconds later, this time a power-play goal at 15:57 for the 8-4 final.

"Some nights you can't buy one, and then some nights they just go in for whatever reason," Tampa Bay coach Jon Cooper said. "I think the players obviously like when they're going in, but giving up four was probably a little too many if we want to keep having success."

NOTES: Tampa Bay has scored six goals in consecutive road games for the fourth time in franchise history. The Lightning won 6-1 at the Montreal Canadiens on Tuesday. ... Tampa Bay defenseman Victor Hedman, who was placed on injured reserve Thursday, will get a second opinion on the undisclosed injury he sustained in Tuesday's win, which was his third game back after missing 12 with an undisclosed injury. ... Bratt scored his first goal in 17 games.