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.

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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

Recent Articles

Special Teams, Defense Once Again Spells Disaster for Hurricanes

Pyotr Kochetkov Recalled to Carolina

Frederik Andersen Ruled Out After Taking Shot Off Helmet

Hurricanes Franchise Center, Sebastian Aho, Out with Upper-Body Injury

Defenseman Brett Pesce Out with Lower-Body Injury

Carolina Hurricanes Recall Defenseman Dylan Coghlan from AHL