Tampa Bay @ Carolina preview

Last Meeting ( Nov 30, 2019 ) Carolina 3, Tampa Bay 2

The Tampa Bay Lightning have built a season-high, six-game winning streak entirely against their own Atlantic Division foes and will finally try someone else Sunday when they visit the Carolina Hurricanes of the Metropolitan. The Lightning have won 14 straight against Atlantic Division opponents after rallying with three third-period goals for a 5-3 victory at Ottawa on Saturday, improving to 3-0-0 on a four-game road trip.

Former Norris Trophy winner Victor Hedman set up Tyler Johnson’s winning goal for his second assist and logged 28 minutes, 13 seconds of ice time Saturday as Tampa Bay was down to five defenseman when dependable Ryan McDonagh left in the first period with an apparent upper-body injury. The Lightning have lost both matchups with the Hurricanes this season by one goal - getting outshot by a combined 82-37 - and are 3-6-2 against Metropolitan Division opponents overall. The Hurricanes reached the midpoint of 2019-20 with 50 points after rallying from three down to get within a goal late in Friday’s 4-3 home loss against Washington - falling to 2-1-0 on its seven-game homestand. “It’s been pretty good,” Carolina coach Rod Brind’Amour told reporters of the first half of the season. “I like this group how they come to work. They don’t quit. That’s pretty positive. We’ve had some tough losses this year, but the guys seem to always dig in. That’s all you can ask for as a coach.”

TIME: 5 p.m. ET. TV: FS Sun, FS Carolinas

ABOUT THE LIGHTNING (23-13-4): Coach Jon Cooper told reporters after the victory that McDonagh is doubtful for Sunday’s game, which will likely move Braydon Coburn back into the lineup after Jan Rutta replaced him Saturday. Center Braydon Point tied the game with his team-leading 16th goal in the third period and left wing Alex Killorn matched him with an empty netter - closing within three of his career high of 19 in 2016-17. Right wing Nikita Kucherov had an assist in the latest win to push his team-leading total to 43 points and captain Steven Stamkos saw his five-game point streak (two goals, five assists) come to an end Saturday.

ABOUT THE HURRICANES (24-15-2): Left wing Teuvo Teravainen recorded a goal and two assists in the last two games to maintain his team lead with 41 points - one better than right wing Andrei Svechnikov, who set up a pair of goals Friday. Center Sebastian Aho scored twice in the past four contests to increase his team-best total to 23 goals while left wing Ryan Dzingel has picked up his production of late with four of his 25 points in the last three games. Forward Martin Necas, who had two points in eight games over his first two NHL campaigns, boasts seven in his past six contests to push his season total to 23.

OVERTIME

1. Carolina C Erik Haula owns 11 goals in 22 games this season, including one in the 4-3 overtime win over the Lightning on Oct. 6.

2. Tampa Bay G Andrei Vasilevskiy, who was rested Saturday, owns a .929 save percentage during his current four-game winning streak.

3. The Hurricanes allowed 12 power-play goals in the past eight games and the Lightning sit second in the league with the man advantage (29.2 percent).

PREDICTION: Hurricanes 4, Lightning 2