Tampa Bay @ Carolina preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 18, 2019 ) Tampa Bay 0, Carolina 2

The Carolina Hurricanes have roared out of the gate with a pair of comeback victories that ended after regulation and go after their third straight to start the season when they host the Tampa Bay Lightning on Sunday. The Hurricanes scored twice in the third period at Washington on Saturday to forge a tie before defenseman Jake Gardiner tallied in overtime for a 3-2 victory.

“It’s definitely not what we’re gonna want the rest of the year,” Gardiner, who signed as a free agent late in the offseason, said during a postgame television interview. “Playing with the lead is a lot easier. But it shows a lot (about) our group. Guys stepped up and we got a nice comeback.” Carolina, which scored a total of six goals while losing all three matchups with the Lightning last season, likely will have Petr Mrazek in net after backup James Reimer made 32 saves in the win at Washington. Tampa Bay must rebound from its first loss of the season as its comeback attempt fell short in a 4-3 setback at Florida on Saturday that began a stretch of six consecutive road contests. Captain Steven Stamkos scored his first goal of the season and the 394th of his career in the loss, but the Lightning surrendered two power-play tallies while finishing scoreless with the man advantage.

TV: 5 p.m. ET, FS Sun (Tampa Bay), FS Carolinas

ABOUT THE LIGHTNING (1-1-0): Defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk, who was bought out by the New York Rangers in the offseason, is off to a strong start with a goal and an assist in two games with Tampa Bay. The team’s fourth line has been a factor in the first two contests and produced the first goal on Saturday as Patrick Maroon and Luke Witkowski notched assists on Gemel Smith's tally. Reigning Vezina Trophy winner Andrei Vasilevskiy played the first two games, meaning Curtis McElhinney could get his first start for the Lightning after spending the 2018-19 season with Carolina.

ABOUT THE HURRICANES (2-0-0): Erik Haula has scored in each of his first two games with the club while fellow newcomers Reimer and Gardiner played big roles on Saturday, prompting coach Rod Brind’Amour to tell Fox Sports Carolinas: “You feel like you’re part of the group (right away), so its huge for those guys.” The Hurricanes were 6-for-6 on the penalty kill versus Washington and will face a Tampa Bay power-play unit that went 5-for-13 against them last season. FTeuvo Teravainen, Andrei Svechnikov and defenseman Dougie Hamilton have recorded two assists apiece over their first two games.

OVERTIME

1. Lightning C Tyler Johnson has collected 12 goals - four last season - and 20 points in 20 career games against the Hurricanes.

2. Carolina C Sebastian Aho, who led the team in scoring last campaign, has registered nine shots but no points in the first two games of 2019-20.

3. Tampa Bay C Carter Verhaeghe, the AHL’s leading scorer in 2018-19, notched an assist on Saturday for his first NHL point.

PREDICTION: Lightning 4, Hurricanes 3