The Tampa Bay Lightning will face the Carolina Hurricanes tonight for second game of this back-to-back for the Bolts.
Coming off a big, yet energy-draining win last night, the Lightning will be facing a better-rested and confident Hurricanes squad that just recorded a huge shootout victory over their division-rival Pittsburgh Penguins two nights ago.
The Canes have surged up the standings and currently sit in the first wild card spot in the Eastern Conference. They are also now within striking distance of the top-3 in the Metropolitan Division, just two points back of the Pens with two games in hand and four points back of the Islanders with one game in hand.
Meanwhile, the Lightning remain well-ahead of the rest of the league in the standings but remain committed to not taking their foot off the gas for the last stretch of the regular season. In order to sweep the season series against the Canes, and extend their winning streak to seven games, the Bolts will likely need backup netminder Louis Domingue to play a big role tonight. Domingue will be seeking his 21st win of the season.
Defenseman Calvin de Haan could make his return to the Carolina lineup for the first time since his eye injury on March 11, as he will be a gametime decision. The Canes enter tonight 18-5-2 in their last 25 games, 7-2-1 in their last 10, and will look to end the night with a three-game winning streak.
If the Lightning can have it their way, they will hold off these hungry Canes and send the Carolina faithful home without a “storm surge” celebration tonight.
Anticipated Tampa Bay Lightning Lines:
Forwards
Ondrej Palat– Steven Stamkos– J.T. Miller
Tyler Johnson– Brayden Point– Nikita Kucherov
Alex Killorn – Anthony Cirelli– Mathieu Joseph
Ryan Callahan – Cedric Paquette– Yanni Gourde
(update: Ryan Callahan will replace Adam Erne tonight. Today is Callahan’s birthday)
Defensemen
Victor Hedman– Mikhail Sergachev
Goaltenders
Louis Domingue