LIGHTNING (6-3-0) at DEVILS (5-1-3)

TV: MSG PLUS  RADIO: WFAN 660 AM & 101.9 FM

Season series: This is the first of three meetings between the teams. The Devils won three of four games last season, including a 6-4 victory in the series finale in March when six different players scored goals for the Devils.

Big story: The Devils have won two straight to keep pace with the Atlantic Division-leading Pittsburgh Penguins. The Penguins are the only team to defeat the Devils, fourth in the Eastern Conference, in regulation this season. The Lightning, losers of two straight, remain atop the Southeast Division and are third in the East with six wins and 12 points.

Team Scope:

Lightning: The Lightning dropped their second straight game on Tuesday -- 2-1 to the Philadelphia Flyers -- after seeing a five-game win streak come to an end last Saturday at home against the New York Rangers. Benoit Pouliot scored a game-tying goal 9:30 into the third period for the Lightning against the Flyers, but Tom Sestito's second goal of the game just 1:41 later proved to be the difference. Lightning goalie Anders Lindback (5-2-0, 2.73 goals-against average, .912 save percentage) turned away 22 of 24 shots.

Devils: David Clarkson tied a career-high with two goals and three points, marking his second three-point game of the season, as the Devils beat the New York Rangers 3-1 on Tuesday at Prudential Center. Patrik Elias assisted on all three goals for his third multi-point game of the year and leads the team with eight assists for the season. The Devils also killed all five Rangers power plays and have denied the opposition on 15 straight power-play chances spanning three games.

Who's hot: Clarkson has points in eight of nine games for a team-leading seven goals and 12 points. … Lightning center Steven Stamkos saw his eight-game point-scoring streak snapped against the Flyers on Tuesday, but he still leads the team with seven goals and 16 points in nine games.

Injury report: Tampa Bay forward B.J. Crombeen (head), who left Tuesday's game against the Flyers after scrapping with Zac Rinaldo, and defenseman Brendan Mikkelson (upper body) are both questionable. … The Devils have no injuries to report.