/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/69363369/1304048423.0.jpg)
Tampa Bay Lightning at Carolina Hurricanes: ROUND 2, GAME 1
Time: 5:00 PM Eastern Time
Location: PNC Arena
Broadcast/Streaming: NBCSN, TVAS, SN
Opponent SBNation Site: Canes Country
Just like the first-round series against the Florida Panthers, the second round match-up against the Carolina Hurricanes will be the first ever in the playoffs. While this series might lack a rivalry and a mutual hatred of the recent Sunshine State showdown, the Lightning-Hurricanes match-up is expected to be more tough and close.
The season series between the two teams ended up split pretty evenly, with the Lightning posting a 4-3-0-1 record against the Hurricanes. Statistically speaking, the Canes look like a slight favorite here – they out-shot the Lightning 18-17 and their underlying numbers look stronger than the Lightning’s. According to NaturalStatTrick.com, the Canes were a better team in the shot department, controlling approximately 51.02% of the shots and 50.66% of expected goal share at 5v5. Even the Hurricanes special teams finished their head-to-head match-up with a better percentage.
The Lightning, however, have added a significant piece to their lineup during the playoffs which they lacked during the regular season: Nikita Kucherov. Carolina’s head coach Rod Brind’Amour called him an “X-factor“ and “probably the freshest guy in the league“ in his recent interview. Kucherov’s performance on the power play carried the Lightning through the first round, and over the course of the series he seemed more adjusted to the game at full strength. Even with playing at a lower level of his capabilities, he managed to record 11 points in six games. This was a new franchise record for most points in a single postseason series, which beat his own record from 2018.
The return of Barclay Goodrow will also play a big part in this series. The Lightning certainly missed the grinder, both for what he brings to the team and for his penalty kill contribution. Jon Cooper recently compared him to 4x4 Jeep which gets you through mud.
Jon Cooper said it was no coincidence Barclay Goodrow returns and #Bolts earn a shutout win to close out Florida in Game 6. "Everybody can't be a Ferrari. Sometimes you need a 4x4 Jeep to get you through the mud. And that's what Goodrow can do for you."
— Bryan Burns (@BBurnsNHL) May 29, 2021
According to the yesterday’s practice, the Lightning will use exactly the same lineup against the Canes which played in Game 6 against the Panthers. Goodrow returned to the left wing of Yanni Gourde’s line, while Ross Colton was moved to the fourth line.
#Bolts forward lines the same at today's practice:
— Bryan Burns (@BBurnsNHL) May 29, 2021
Palat-Point-Kucherov
Killorn-Cirelli-Stamkos
Goodrow-Gourde-Coleman
Maroon-Johnson-Colton
The Canes are also expected to roll the same lineup which played in their latest game. Alex Nedeljkovic will be the starter for this series.
#Canes lines in practice today:
— Michael Smith (@MSmithCanes) May 29, 2021
McGinn-Aho-Teravainen
Niederreiter-Trocheck-Necas
Svechnikov-Staal-Foegele
Martinook-Lorentz-Fast
Paquette
Slavin-Hamilton
Skjei-Pesce
Bean-Hakanpaa
Gardiner-Lajoie
Nedeljkovic
Mrazek
The Lightning will open this series with two games in Raleigh on Sunday and Tuesday and will return to Amalie Arena on Thursday and Saturday.
Tampa Bay Lightning Lines
Forwards
Ondrej Palat - Brayden Point - Nikita Kucherov
Alex Killorn - Anthony Cirelli - Steven Stamkos
Barclay Goodrow - Yanni Gourde - Blake Coleman
Pat Maroon - Tyler Johnson - Ross Colton
Defense
Victor Hedman - Jan Rutta
Ryan McDonagh - Erik Cernak
Mikhail Sergachev - David Savard
Goaltenders
Andrei Vasilevskiy
Curtis McElhinney
Carolina Hurricanes Lines
Forwards
Brock McGinn - Sebastian Aho - Teuvo Teravainen
Nino Niederreiter - Vincent Trochek - Martin Necas
Andrei Svechnikov - Jordan Staal - Warren Foegele
Jordan Martinook - Steven Lorentz - Jesper Fast
Defense
Jaccob Slavin - Dougie Hamilton
Brady Skjei - Brett Pesce
Jake Bean - Jani Hakanpaa
Goaltenders
Alex Nedeljkovic
Petr Mrazek
Loading comments...