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Tampa Bay Lightning: What to expect against the Carolina Hurricanes

ByBenjamin Henderson|
TAMPA, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 28: Alex Barre-Boulet #12 of the Tampa Bay Lightning celebrates a goal during a game against the Arizona Coyotes at Amalie Arena on October 28, 2021 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 28: Alex Barre-Boulet #12 of the Tampa Bay Lightning celebrates a goal during a game against the Arizona Coyotes at Amalie Arena on October 28, 2021 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

After a long offseason, the Tampa Bay Lightning will take the ice tonight against the Carolina Hurricanes in the first of seven exhibition games before the start of the 2023-24 season.

NHL preseason games don’t quite have the stakes or hype as compared to NFL preseason games, but here are some things to watch for as the Bolts take the ice tonight in Raliegh.

Tampa Bay Lightning: Welcome back

The first thing to keep in mind is that for preseason games, NHL teams typically field, at best, half of their regular guys. They will rotate these guys throughout the preseason.

Tonight, there will be no Brayden Point, Steven Stamkos, Nikita Kucherov, etc.

According to Carolina Hurricanes reporter Walt Ruff, the following is the lineup the Lightning are going to trot out tonight.

Given our best guess, Alex Barre-Boulet, Nick Paul, and Tanner Jeannot will probably get paired together one line, with Anthony Cirelli, Conor Sheary, and Brandon Hagel comprising the other top line tonight.

Sheary and Barre-Boulet will be the two to watch tonight among the forward group. Sheary came over to Tampa in free agency in the offseason, while Barre-Boulet is hoping to finally make the permanent leap from Syracuse to the big club this season.

Here is a rundown of the rest of the roster you may not be familiar with:

  • Bennett MacArthur – Undrafted prospect who scored 28 points in 53 games last season with the Orlando Solar Bears.
  • Evan Fitzpatrick – Former second-round pick by the St. Louis Blues in 2016. Spent last season with the Florida Everblades.
  • Ilya Usau – Fomer undrafted prospect who scored 16 points last season in Syracuse
  • Hugo Alnefelt – Whether he plays tonight or tomorrow night, Alnefelt will be Tampa’s backup goalie if Jonas Johansson doesn’t work out this season.
  • Declan Carlile – Undrafted defenseman who had a plus/minus rating of +28 in Syracuse last season.
  • Emil Lilleberg – Drafted in the fourth round by Arizona in 2021, Lilleberg played for the Swedish team IK Oskarshamn last season.
  • Ethan Gauthier – 37th overall pick by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the 2023 draft. Put up 69 points in 66 games last season in the QMJHL.
  • Gage Goncalves – 2nd round pick by Tampa in 2020. 54 points last season with Syracuse.
  • Ethan Hay – 7th round pick by Tampa in the 2023 draft. Spent last season with the Flint Firebirds in the OHL.
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