The Carolina Hurricanes hit the road on Saturday night, and their moms are coming with them. The mom's trip is in full swing for the group as they head to Tampa for the final meeting of the campaign with the Lightning. The moms were in Raleigh on Thursday night, but their boys couldn't get a win. Mark Jankowski scored the lone goal for the Canes, but they lost 3-1 to the Blues on home ice.
Frederik Andersen is likely to get the start for the Canes in Tampa, and his winning ways are returning at the right time. He has won three of his last four outings and has points in seven of eight. With Brandon Bussi returning from the break a little rusty, the Canes need a goalie that they can count on. Andersen is making a great case to be the team's #1 in the postseason.
On the Other Side: Tampa Bay Lightning
Last meeting: The Hurricanes returned from the pause by welcoming the Lightning to Raleigh for their only visit. They jumped out to a 3-0 lead just 6:41 into the contest, but the Bolts tied it up early in the second. Both teams added another in the second period before Sebastian Aho scored on the power play in the third, giving the Canes the lead for good in a 5-4 victory for Carolina.
It has been a rough few weeks for the Lightning results-wise. The loss in Raleigh began a four-game losing streak for the Bolts, which knocked them out of first place in the division. Last Sunday, they played a truly wild contest against the Sabres, with the teams combining for 15 goals and a whole lot of penalty minutes, on the way to an 8-7 Buffalo victory.
It also hasn't helped that their injury situation continues to be an issue. Nick Paul hasn't played since before the break, and he's a game-time decision tonight. Erik Cernak's availability will also be determined close to game time. Dominic James, who was very impressive during both previous meetings, is out until late April with a leg injury.
Still, for all of their struggles, they remain one of the best teams in the league. The Bolts got back in the win column on Thursday night with a big divisional victory over the Red Wings. Any team with Nikita Kucherov, Brayden Point, and Andrei Vasilevskiy is going to be just fine. They're a heavy favorite to go far in the playoffs, making this another big test for the Hurricanes.
Lightning to Watch
Jake Guentzel: There are many who still long for the chance to go back in time and bring Guentzel back to Raleigh. He has certainly enjoyed facing the Canes as a Bolt. Over the last two seasons, he has two goals and six assists in five games. Guentzel scored twice during Tampa's win over the Canes in December before providing three assists a few weeks ago in Raleigh.
Corey Perry: Like the Hurricanes, the Lightning didn't have a very active trade deadline. Their only notable trade saw them bring Perry back in, sending a second-round pick to the Kings. Perry spent two seasons in Tampa, going to the Cup Final in 2022 before losing to Colorado. Since the move, Perry has two goals and an assist in four games.
Hurricanes to Watch
Sebastian Aho: While he didn't find the scoresheet on Thursday night, Aho was all over it for the Hurricanes. He finished with a game-high seven shots, including a few particularly dangerous chances during the first and third periods. He's on the hunt for 700 points, needing three more to become the third player in franchise history to reach this milestone.
Nicolas Deslauriers: If the practice lines are to be believed, Deslauriers might be in line to make his Hurricanes debut on Saturday night in Tampa. It's fitting, too, especially after the rugged game the Bolts played with the Sabres last weekend. It wouldn't surprise me to see him drop the gloves at some point. Regardless, another debut gives us another reason to be excited for this contest.