Tampa Bay Lightning at Carolina Hurricanes Preview

The Tampa Bay Lightning (42-26-6) are looking to break out of a major slump tonight against the Carolina Hurricanes (47-16-9) with puck drop slated for 7:00 p.m. ET Tuesday night. At home tonight, FanDuel currently has the Hurricanes slightly favored at -146 with an over/under at 6.5.

Coming into this final game of their four-game road trip, the Lightning have dropped four games in a row and have yet to win a game on this trip. Tampa Bay battled in a physical and tough game on Saturday with the Boston Bruins but eventually fell 2-1 at TD Garden. Power plays ruled the game as Patrice Bergeron opened the scoring up for Boston on an early Power Play goal in the first period. Victor Hedman would then come right back to score shorthanded just a few minutes later but Garnet Hathaway scored the eventual game-winner in the second period to allow the Bruins to clinch the Atlantic division. Tampa Bay still sits eight points away from officially clinching a spot in this year’s playoffs.

The Hurricanes likely won’t be a very easy task for the Bolts tonight either as one of the top teams in the Eastern conference. They have been vulnerable as of late though, losing their last game to the Boston Bruins as well, 4-3 the final score after a shootout on Sunday. In their past 10 games, the Hurricanes have a 5-4-1 record and could be slightly letting their foot off the gas given already clinching a playoff spot. The biggest task tonight for the Lightning, however, is going to be staying out of the penalty box. Tampa Bay averages 11.7 penalty minutes served per game, ranking first in the NHL, to go along with 14.7 penalty minutes served per game over their last 10 games. The Hurricanes have only averaged 5.1 penalty minutes served in their last 10.

Carolina has dominated the season series coming into this game up two games to none. The Hurricanes spoiled a great game from Andrei Vasilevskiy back on November 3rd to win in a shootout 4-3 in Tampa. On March 5th in Carolina, the Hurricanes drubbed the Bolts 6-0 in a game that saw Teuvo Teravainen notch a hat trick in the effort. Tonight is the final matchup between these two teams in the regular season.

INJURIES: No injuries for the Lightning.

Carolina wingers Andrei Svechnikov, Max Pacioretty, and Ondrej Kase as well as D Jake Gardiner remain on IR. G Antti Raanta and RW Jesse Puljujarvi are considered day-to-day.

Odds (Courtesy of FanDuel): TBL +122 ML/CAR -146 ML, O 6.5 +110/U 6.5 -134

Where to watch: Bally Sports Sun, NHL Power Play, ESPN+

Where to listen: Lightning Radio 24/7, 102.5 MHz-FM

PNC Arena, Raleigh, NC

March 28, 2023, 7:00 p.m. ET