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Tampa Bay Lightning versus Carolina Hurricanes preview

WHERE: Tampa Bay Times Forum, Tampa, Florida
WHEN: 7:00 PM EDT | | TICKETS: Check Availability
MEDIA: NHL Network (cable) Sun Sports (cable), 970 WFLA (radio)
OPPONENT COVERAGE: Canes Country, CanesNow, Hurricanes Beat

Tonight, The Tampa Bay Lightning tries to avoid another loss at home and its longest home losing streak in four seasons. The Lightning has been outscored 14-7 during the current skid.

Tampa Bay has lost three of its last four games and if they have a good chance of winning, it might not come at the hands of the Carolina Hurricanes tonight. The Hurricanes have had some luck on the road and are 7-2-1 in their last 10 games away from PNC arena. Carolina (15-10-1) has also won six of their last eight games. A victory against Tampa Bay would give Carolina three straight road wins, a season high for them.

Carolina has had some luck at the Tampa Bay Times Forum, winning their last two meetings here, but the Lightning have had more recent success against Hurricanes Tonight’s game is the third of five meetings between the Southeast Division rivals and Tampa Bay was victorious in the first two games this season. But, those games were on the road.

The Lightning’s last game, Thursday’s game against the Islanders, was well…uneventful. The Lightning were shutout but had a goalie on their end playing spectacular. Anders Lindback had 27 saves and only let in one goal, scored by John Tavares. The other goal went into a empty net. However, Lindback does not get the start tonight for the Bolts, although he has been the Lightning’s version of a “hot” goalie. He is looking a lot more confident in net and the goals he has allowed recently have been on defensive breakdowns. It looks like, at least for now, that Lindback has improved his short side coverage and his rebound control.

Instead, Mathieu Garon gets the start for Tampa Bay. This is Garon’s first start since getting injured and leaving the game on March 4 against the Pittsburgh Penguins. He let in one goal against Pittsburgh before leaving the game, then was placed on the IR. Garon does have a 2-0-0 record against the Hurricanes this season along with a 1.50 goal-against average and a .957 save percentage.

According to Leftwinglock.com, Justin Peters will be the starting goalie for Carolina. Peters is getting a chance to build on his second career shutout, a 4-0 victory against the Washington Capitals. Peters is 2-1 this season with a .926 save percentage and a 2.35 goals against average.

On the injury front, Lightning forward Tom Pyatt (upper body) is back in the lineup after missing the game Thursday against the Islanders. His injury had come at the hands of the Florida Panthers earlier in the week.

The Lightning also made a few roster moves today. Their first came when they recalled Dana Tyrell from the Syracuse Crunch. Tyrell has played in six games with the Lightning and 15 with the Crunch.

Tampa Bay also had a roster move directly with the opponent they face tonight. The Hurricanes claimed Lightning left wing Adam Hall off of waivers right before the noon deadline today. Hall will play in the game tonight.

Lightning: Benoit Pouliot (upper body, Injured Reserve) is close to returning but will not be in the lineup tonight and Vincent Lecavalier (lower body, injured reserved) will miss another game.

Hurricanes: Joni Pitkanen (Lower Body), Cam Ward (Lower Body), Chad LaRose (concussion). Tuomo Ruutu (hip).

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