Tampa Bay Lightning hopeful for recovery as they face Carolina Hurricanes – NHL Preview
Tampa Bay Lightning’s smart winning run is followed by the team’s slump, which is certainly not going to help their playoff chances especially with so little time left in the start of the postseason.
They need to find winning ways back and a game against Carolina Hurricanes might help their cause.
Both teams are ranked below the comfort zone in National Hockey League (NHL) Eastern Conference, but Lightning have more chance of securing a place in the comfort zone than Hurricanes.
However, no team can be underrated at this stage and an exciting encounter is certainly on the cards as these sides play against each other on Saturday, March 10, 2012, at Tampa Bay Times Forum, Tampa, Florida.
Here is a look at both teams.
Lightning
They are ranked at 11th spot in the Eastern Conference with 69 points after 67 games and are three points behind the eighth-ranked Washington Capitals.
Buffalo Sabres and Winnipeg Jets are ranked between Capitals and Lightning.
Recently, Lightning won four games in a row and defeated strong teams like New York Rangers and New Jersey Devils as well.
However, they are presently on a two-game losing streak with the defeats coming against Ottawa Senators (7-3) and Washington Capitals (3-2 in overtime).
Lightning gave a tough time to Capitals and after going one goal down in the first period, scored two goals in the second. However, they conceded a goal each in the final period and overtime to lose the game.
Lightning’s coach, Guy Boucher, said after the game:
"If you come in here and you get a point, it's not supposed to be disappointing. But it's disappointing because it was just a dumb, dumb, dumb, dumb play, that last play."
Hurricanes
They have played four games this month and won only one of them.
Hurricanes have played two games of the present five-game road trip. They won the first game of the trip against Washington Capitals, but lost the next against Buffalo Sabres.
Hurricanes had a one-goal lead after the end of first period, but they gave away two goals while scoring one in the second period.
After the goalless third period, the game went to overtime where Sabres scored to get the victory.
Hurricanes’ coach, Kirk Muller, said after the game:
"Our guys, you can tell by the way we're playing, we believe we can battle every night and keep picking up points. We're scratching and clawing for every point."
Hurricanes are ranked at 13th spot in the Eastern Conference with 65 points after 67 games.
Predictions
Lightning are favourites.
The sum of goals scored by both teams might stay under six.
If Hurricanes win, the winning margin will be two or more goals.
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