What - Game 7 (3-3-0)
When - 7 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 24
Where - Amalie Arena; Tampa Bay, FL
How to Watch - Bally Sports South
The Carolina Hurricanes (3-3-0) will play the last game of their road trip in Tampa Bay tonight as they take on the Lightning (2-2-2) at 7 p.m.
It's also special day in the NHL as all 32 teams will be in action today.
The Canes have struggled early in the season in terms of two things: injuries and defending.
The Hurricanes have been without Andrei Svechnikov for the entire season, Sebastian Aho for three games, Frederik Andersen for two games and now Brett Pesce for a game.
While neither Svechnikov nor Pesce will go tonight, Brind'Amour did not rule out the possibility of Aho and Andersen going.
"It's interesting because we have a few guys who are close," Brind'Amour said. "I haven't gone in there yet, so I'm crossing my fingers on a few of them, but Pesce for sure isn't. He's not on the trip. Not sure about that. He got checked yesterday again and I think we're still up in the air there with how long he's going to be out. But the other guys are possible for tonight which is good."
Now defending is an entirely different issue. Carolina has allowed the most goals in the league (30) at the highest rate per game (5.0).
If they want to be a successful team, that has to tighten up drastically. Part of it is even strength, but a lot of it is on the penalty kill which is an abysmal 67.9%.
With the Canes also having taken the second most penalties in the league, that isn't a recipe for success.
The Lightning haven't been much better to start either. They've lost four of their last five games and have allowed the second most goals in the league (24).
However, both teams are doing well scoring goals. The Canes have the second highest goals per game rate (4.5) and their power play is clicking at 26.7%.
Tampa has a the league's fourth best power play, operating at a 35% success rate. That could spell disaster for Carolina.
Streaks
- Martin Necas (2g, 3a) has points in four consecutive games.
- Seth Jarvis (4g, 2a), Jesperi Kotkaniemi (2g, 3a), Stefan Noesen (1g, 5a) and Jaccob Slavin (2g, 3a) have points in three straight games.
- Kotkaniemi also has goals in back-to-back games.
Milestone Watch
- Necas is four points shy of 200 career points.
- Noesen is four points shy of 100 career points.
- Teuvo Teravainen skated in his 600th career game against the Colorado Avalanche on Saturday.
Game Notes
- The Hurricanes have an all-time record of 62-57-10-12 record against the Lightning.
- Necas has 15 points (7g, 8a) and two overtime winners in 17 games against the Bolts.
- Jarvis has five points (2g, 3a) in six games against the Bolts.
- Antti Raanta has a 5-2-1 record with a 2.11 GAA, 0.931 Sv% and a shutout in his career against Tampa Bay.
- Tonight's game will take place on Tony DeAngelo's birthday. He last played on his birthday in 2019 and had a goal and an assist in a 6-2 win over the Buffalo Sabres.
- Jaccob Slavin currently leads all defensemen in scoring with seven points (3g, 4a), none of which have come on the power play. The next closest defenseman in scoring currently with 0 power play points is Erik Karlsson who has four points.
Hurricanes Projected Lineup
Michael Bunting - Teuvo Teravainen - Martin Necas
Stefan Noesen - Jesperi Kotkaniemi - Seth Jarvis
Jordan Martinook - Jordan Staal - Jesper Fast
Brendan Lemieux - Jack Drury
Jaccob Slavin - Brent Burns
Brady Skjei - Jalen Chatfield
Dmitry Orlov - Tony DeAngelo
Dylan Coghlan
Antti Raanta
Pyotr Kochetkov
Injuries and Scratches: Andrei Svechnikov (knee), Vasily Ponomarev (knee), Ryan Suzuki (shoulder), Sebastian Aho* (UBI), Brett Pesce (LBI), Frederik Andersen* (UBI)
*Brind'Amour said both Andersen and Aho will be game-time decisions tonight.
Lightning Projected Lineup
Alex Barre-Boulet - Brayden Point - Nikita Kucherov
Steven Stamkos - Nick Paul - Brandon Hagel
Tanner Jeannot - Anthony Cirelli - Waltteri Merela
Mikey Eyssimont - Luke Glendening - Conor Sheary
Victor Hedman - Erik Cernak
Mikhail Sergachev - Nick Perbix
Calvin de Haan - Darren Raddysh
Jonas Johansson
Matt Tomkins
Injuries and Scratches: Andrei Vasilevskiy (back), Tyler Motte (UBI), Austin Watson, Haydn Fleury, Zach Bogosian
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