NEWARK, N.J., March 2 (UPI) -- Ilya Kovalchuk snapped a tie with a goal just past the midway point of the third period Wednesday to bring the New Jersey Devils a 2-1 victory over Tampa Bay.
The Devils extended their late-season streak that still leaves them nine points short of the final playoff position in the Eastern Conference. New Jersey has gone 18-2-2 since Jan. 9, and Wednesday's victory came over the team that leads the Southeast Division.
Dominic Moore gave Tampa Bay the lead on the power play 4:41 into the second period and Henrik Tallinder tied it with 1:15 to go in the stanza.
Kovalchuk produced the game-winner on a slap shot that got the best of Dwayne Roloson, who made 25 saves while taking the loss.
Martin Brodeur needed to make only 15 saves in recording win No. 617 in his 18-year career.
Tampa Bay had won its previous three games.
