Hockey is back in full swing as the Carolina Hurricanes prepare to host the Tampa Bay Lightning tonight at 7 PM after a three-week Olympic break. The Hurricanes, boasting a record of 36-15-6, are facing off against the Lightning, who currently hold a 38-14-4 record. This matchup features the top two teams in the Eastern Conference, both leading their respective divisions.
Carolina fans will be excited to see three of their stars in action: Jaccob Slavin, who earned a gold medal with the United States, Seth Jarvis, who brought home silver with Canada, and Sebastian Aho, who secured bronze with Finland. Head coach Rod Brind’Amour has confirmed that all three players will be on the ice tonight, as reported by Walt Ruff.
As the teams return to regular-season play, the Lightning enter the game as one of the hottest teams in the league. Prior to the Olympic break, Tampa Bay recorded an impressive five consecutive wins and 19 victories in their last 21 games. They continued their momentum last night with a 4-2 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs.
The previous meeting between these two teams occurred on December 20, where the Lightning triumphed 6-4, marking the end of a three-game losing streak for Tampa. This victory has significantly contributed to their current form. According to betting odds from FanDuel, the Lightning have the second-best chances to win the Stanley Cup, while the Hurricanes are closely behind in third.
Both teams have faced their share of injuries throughout the season, but most players are healthy for this significant matchup. The Lightning are powered by winger Nikita Kucherov, who leads the team with 94 points in 52 games, ranking second in the NHL. He is also tied for the league lead in assists with 64. Notably, former Hurricane Jake Guentzel has made an impact with 26 goals and 34 assists thus far.
On the defensive end, Tampa Bay’s Darren Raddysh ranks sixth among defensemen in points with 52, while star Victor Hedman, despite limited play this season due to injury, is expected to contribute tonight.
For the Hurricanes, goaltender Brandon Bussi is set to start, boasting a remarkable 23-3-1 record, a 2.16 goals-against average, and a .906 save percentage. Tonight’s matchup against the Lightning poses a hefty challenge, but victories in games like these are crucial for the Hurricanes as they prepare for the playoffs.
Fans can catch the action on the FanDuel Sports Network, with radio coverage available on 99.9 The Fan. The odds favor the Hurricanes at -150 on the moneyline, with a spread of -1.5 at +156. With both teams in peak form, tonight’s game promises to be a thrilling battle on the ice.