The Tampa Bay Lightning and the Carolina Hurricanes are two of the best clubs in the Central Division of the National Hockey League. The Lightning, the defending Stanley Cup champions, are seeking to defend their crown, while the Hurricanes are also hoping for a lengthy postseason run. In this post, we’ll examine what makes these two teams so effective, as well as their forthcoming matchups.
Background on the Teams
Tampa Bay Lightning
Professional ice hockey club based in Tampa, Florida. They were established in 1992 and entered the NHL in 1993 as an expansion team. In 2004, 2020, and 2021, the Lightning won the Stanley Cup, making them a successful franchise in recent years.
The Lightning have a solid core of players, which includes captain Steven Stamkos, defenseman Victor Hedman, and goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy. In addition to a deep lineup, they boast a number of gifted forwards, including Brayden Point, Nikita Kucherov, and Ondrej Palat.
Carolina Hurricanes
The Carolina Hurricanes are a professional ice hockey team with headquarters in Raleigh, North Carolina. They were created as the New England Whalers in 1971 and joined the NHL as the Hartford Whalers in 1979. In 1997, the team relocated to North Carolina and changed its name to the Carolina Hurricanes.
In each of the last three seasons, the Hurricanes have qualified for the postseason due to their consistency as a good club. Their roster includes captain Jordan Staal, defenseman Dougie Hamilton, and goaltender Frederik Andersen, among others. In addition, they have a number of emerging young contributors, such as Sebastian Aho, Andrei Svechnikov, and Martin Necas.
Face-to-Face Matchups
Regular Season Matchups
The Lightning and the Hurricanes have met four times during the 2021-22 NHL season. On October 15, Brayden Point and Ondrej Palat scored goals to lead the Lightning to a 2-1 victory over the Devils. Jordan Staal, Andrei Svechnikov, and Vincent Trocheck scored goals to help the Hurricanes win the second game on October 26 by a score of 3-1.
Victor Hedman and Nikita Kucherov scored for the Lightning, while Martin Necas and Brett Pesce scored for the Hurricanes in the third game, which ended in a 2-2 draw on November 16. The Lightning won their most recent game on November 23 by a score of 3-1, with goals from Steven Stamkos, Ondrej Palat, and Alex Killorn.
Championship History
The Lightning and Hurricanes have only met once in the Stanley Cup playoffs, in the second round of 2021. Four of the five games were decided by a single goal in the Lightning’s series victory.
Why They Have Success
Tampa Bay Lightning
In recent years, the Tampa Bay Lightning have been successful thanks to their vast roster of quality players and solid team defense. They feature one of the best goaltenders in the league in Andrei Vasilevskiy, who has won the Vezina Award each of the past two seasons as the league’s best goaltender. In addition, they have a number of top forwards who can score at any time, such as Brayden Point and Nikita Kucherov.
In all defensive zones, the Lightning are formidable. They have a strong collection of defensemen, led by Victor Hedman, the 2018 Norris Award winner as the league’s best defenseman. In the 2020-21 season, they will have the best penalty kill and be the most disciplined defensive team in the league, allowing the fewest goals against per game.
Carolina Hurricanes
The recent success of the Carolina Hurricanes can be attributed to their team play and depth. Dougie Hamilton, who was a Norris Trophy finalist for the 2019-20 season, leads their excellent defense. In addition, their goaltender tandem of Frederik Andersen and Antti Raanta is formidable.
The Hurricanes possess a number of offensive contributors. Sebastian Aho is their main scorer, but they have a number of other players, such as Vincent Trocheck and Andrei Svechnikov, who are also capable of scoring goals. It can be tough for opponents to keep up with the Hurricanes’ fast-paced, high-tempo style of play.
Watch Tampa Bay Lightning or Carolina Hurricanes live streams
If you are unable to attend Tampa Bay Lightning or Carolina Hurricanes games in person, the next best thing is to watch their live streams. There are a number of possibilities, including subscribing to NHL.tv or using a streaming service like Hulu Live, YouTube TV, or Sling TV that offers live sports packages. By viewing the live broadcasts, you can feel a part of the action and experience the excitement of the game as it unfolds. Also, with the ability to pause, rewind, and replay, you may catch any missed highlights or rewatch pivotal parts of the game.
Conclusion
The Tampa Bay Lightning and Carolina Hurricanes are two of the best teams in the Central Division of the NHL, and their head-to-head meetings are always eagerly anticipated. Both teams have formidable lineups and play a team-oriented, disciplined style of hockey. The future meetings between these two clubs will be intriguing to watch and might have huge consequences for the postseason.