Lightning Vs Hurricanes: Projected Lineup, Odds and Game Preview for Feb. 26

The Lightning vs Hurricanes matchup returns tonight at Lenovo Center with Carolina expected to have a near-full roster, a veteran forward back in the lineup and a hot young goalie likely to start. This game matters for both clubs as they resume the regular season after an Olympic break, with playoff positioning and recent momentum on the line.

Lightning Vs Hurricanes: Projected Carolina lineup, goalie choice and special teams

Carolina’s forward group is set to feature the return of a veteran winger who missed the team’s last seven games before the Olympic pause. That player skated alongside William Carrier and Jesperi Kotkaniemi during morning skate and is slated to rejoin the forward rotation.

• Projected line noted in morning skate: Carrier - Jankowski/Kotkaniemi - Robinson
• Power play units:
  • PP1: Aho, Ehlers (Staal), Jarvis, Svechnikov with Gostisbehere
  • PP2: Blake, Hall, Jankowski, Stankoven with Nikishin
• Netminder: Brandon Bussi is likely to start coming out of the break; he has won seven straight starts and recorded a shutout in New York on Feb. 5.
• Injury note: Pyotr Kochetkov is listed as likely out for the year following hip surgery (status noted as of Dec. 29).
• Faceoff/rotation detail: Jordan Staal has been taking faceoffs with the first power-play unit and shifts off when the puck exits the zone, with Nikolaj Ehlers jumping on after the change.

Odds, predictions and matchups to watch in lightning vs hurricanes

Betting projections and expert picks ahead of the game show a close contest. One set of picks lists an ATS choice of Lightning (+1. 5), an Over/Under pick of Under (6. 5) and a score projection of Hurricanes 4 - Lightning 3. Expect that these projections reflect current form and could change up to puck drop.

Key player matchups and recent form highlighted for tonight include leading offensive contributors and goaltending trends. Andrei Svechnikov and Jake Guentzel are named as forwards to watch for their respective clubs. Season records cited entering the matchup show the Hurricanes and Lightning among the NHL’s top teams.

• Recent form: Tampa Bay entered the break as one of the hottest teams in the league, described as winning their last five and 19 of their last 21 games; they opened after the break with a 4-2 victory the night before this matchup.
• Head-to-head context: The last meeting between these teams ended in a 6-4 victory for Tampa Bay on Dec. 20, a result tied to the run the Lightning have enjoyed since.
• Notable seasonal performers called out: a winger with 94 points in 52 games and 64 assists, another forward with 26 goals and 34 assists in 56 games, and a defenseman with 52 points among defensemen this season. One star defenseman has returned to the lineup following missed time due to injury.
• Goaltending snapshot: Brandon Bussi’s season numbers were noted as 23-3-1 with a 2. 16 goals-against average and a. 906 save percentage in the campaign referenced.

What to watch and outlook

Expect a competitive opener out of the break. Watch for how the returning winger reintegrates with his new line mates, whether Bussi’s hot streak continues, and how Tampa Bay’s high-powered run translates into the resumed schedule. Special teams personnel and the faceoff rotation could be decisive in a game projected to be tight.

Details such as final scratches, last-minute lineup changes and any in-game developments may evolve up to puck drop; treat tonight’s projections as subject to late adjustments.