Hockey Blog > Tampa Bay Lightning
Lightning-Hurricanes Preview
GAME: Tampa Bay Lightning (42-32-5) at Carolina Hurricanes (51-21-7).
TIME: Friday, 7 p.m. EDT.
After winning the Stanley Cup in 2004-05, the Tampa Bay Lightning are clinging to the Eastern Conference's final playoff spot, and hardly look poised to defend their crown.
Hoping to avoid a third straight loss, the Lightning visit the Southeast Division champion Carolina Hurricanes in the opener of a home-and-home series and a potential first-round playoff preview.
Senators-Lightning Preview
GAME: Ottawa Senators at Tampa Bay Lightning.
PLAYOFF SERIES: Eastern Conference quarterfinals; tied 1-1.
TIME: Tuesday, 7 p.m. EDT.
After a lackluster loss in Game 1, the Tampa Bay Lightning finally played like a team out to defend its Stanley Cup championship. Now they will try to do it again.
After taking a game on the road from the top-seeded Ottawa Senators, the eighth-seeded Lightning look to grab a 2-1 series lead as the series shifts to Tampa Bay for Game 3.
Hurricanes 5, Lightning 4, SO
Matt Cullen learned his shootout lessons well, be it from a year spent in Italy during the lockout or all the times this season he watched other players around the NHL score in the new tiebreaker.
"In Italy, we worked on breakaways for probably 20 minutes in practice every day," the Carolina center said. "Here, after a game, we'll be in the gym working out, and you see the other teams' shootouts. You kind of get ideas from guys, and you learn whether you should shoot or deke.
Hurricanes-Lightning Preview
GAME: Carolina Hurricanes (52-21-7) at Tampa Bay Lightning (42-32-6).
TIME: Saturday, 7:30 p.m. EDT.
The Carolina Hurricanes look to move into sole possession of first place in the Eastern Conference when they complete a home-and-home series with the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Carolina and Ottawa are tied for the East lead with 111 points. If the Hurricanes win their final two games, they will clinch the No. 1 seed in the postseason.
