by Chuck Sommers
Thursday, Nov 03, 2022
Time: 7 p.m. ET
Venue: Amalie Arena, Tampa, FL
Where to watch: Bally Sports South, Bally Sports Sun
Opening Odds at USA Sportsbooks
DraftKings: Lightning -140, Hurricanes +120
FanDuel: Lightning -134, Hurricanes +112
BetMGM: Lightning -143, Hurricanes +120
Caesars: Lightning -140, Hurricanes +118
Season record
Hurricanes: 6-2-1 (13 points)
Lightning: 6-4-0 (12 points)
What an electric start to the NHL season. So much parity, so many good teams through the first 10-plus games, you have every right to be excited! Of course the Vegas Golden Knights and Boston Bruins are heading the fun charge here as the top two teams in the league, because of course they are. But never count out the Avalanche, you know they're always going to be hanging around and will be eating worlds once they get everyone healthy. But this is a good time to be playing these hockey games, as well. Look no further than our own Vegas Writer off to a 14-11-0 start over the first 30 days of the NHL season. There's also ASA, Inc. posting a 10-5-1 mark through the first month. You know you can trust our champion handicappers to get you across the finish line with your NHL bets. Check out our Best Bets page at bigal.com to see what we're throwing down!
Hurricanes - Lightning preview, prediction and analysis
Recent results
Hurricanes: won 3-2 (SO) vs. Capitals; won three of four
Lightning: won 4-3 vs. Senators; won three straight
One of these days, we're going to be treated to an all-time classic of this series where it may resemble the passing of the guard. But for now, we have to get a fun early-season battle between the Carolina Hurricanes and Tampa Bay Lightning, where it's about the same old narrative to begin the year. Carolina is playing well and getting contributions from everyone, while Tampa is a little slow out of the gates after another Stanley Cup Final appearance last year.
But for the first time, this matchup might be wide open because of how the teams have, in fact, started this year. The Canes are not getting the best goaltending from Freddie Andersen, but are still finding ways to win at 6-2-1 through nine games. The Bolts aren't getting the best tending of the goal from Andrei Vasilevskiy, but yet they've won three in a row and have since quieted the panic for a little bit.
How much it's been quieted remains to be seen, and we'll find out, but the Lightning have scored at least four goals in four of their last five games (the four being wins) while Carolina has struggled to score as of late, going from 3, 2, 4 and 2 goals in their last four games.
"We had the puck a lot," Andersen said. "I think that made it [tougher] for me. They didn't really fire a lot of easy ones. They were battling for their chances."
The Hurricanes needed a shootout to beat Washington the other day, but the Capitals are banged up and not looking the best right now. Tampa, meanwhile, got back on track with wins against Anaheim, San Jose and Ottawa. Not exactly murderer's row for this one. Yet whomever wins this game is likely getting the fun treatment of thinking they are the leaders in the Eastern Conference.
"That was a weird one for sure," Lightning captain Steven Stamkos said. "It was almost a case that we had too many power plays tonight. When it's not working it can snowball, and we let it snowball. That's on us."
Prediction
The numbers are hard to tell who should win this one, but I think when in doubt, you take the home team in a close one. Tampa is a slight favorite so you're not losing too much money if you lay some on the money line. The spread would be a close one to consider if the number is right at 1.5, but I wouldn't risk it. Tampa in a close one. Lightning win 3-2
One of these days, we're going to be treated to an all-time classic of this series where it may resemble the passing of the guard. But for now, we have to get a fun early-season battle between the Carolina Hurricanes and Tampa Bay Lightning, where it's about the same old narrative to begin the year. Carolina is playing well and getting contributions from everyone, while Tampa is a little slow out of the gates after another Stanley Cup Final appearance last year.
But for the first time, this matchup might be wide open because of how the teams have, in fact, started this year. The Canes are not getting the best goaltending from Freddie Andersen, but are still finding ways to win at 6-2-1 through nine games. The Bolts aren't getting the best tending of the goal from Andrei Vasilevskiy, but yet they've won three in a row and have since quieted the panic for a little bit.
How much it's been quieted remains to be seen, and we'll find out, but the Lightning have scored at least four goals in four of their last five games (the four being wins) while Carolina has struggled to score as of late, going from 3, 2, 4 and 2 goals in their last four games.
"We had the puck a lot," Andersen said. "I think that made it [tougher] for me. They didn't really fire a lot of easy ones. They were battling for their chances."
The Hurricanes needed a shootout to beat Washington the other day, but the Capitals are banged up and not looking the best right now. Tampa, meanwhile, got back on track with wins against Anaheim, San Jose and Ottawa. Not exactly murderer's row for this one. Yet whomever wins this game is likely getting the fun treatment of thinking they are the leaders in the Eastern Conference.
"That was a weird one for sure," Lightning captain Steven Stamkos said. "It was almost a case that we had too many power plays tonight. When it's not working it can snowball, and we let it snowball. That's on us."
Prediction
The numbers are hard to tell who should win this one, but I think when in doubt, you take the home team in a close one. Tampa is a slight favorite so you're not losing too much money if you lay some on the money line. The spread would be a close one to consider if the number is right at 1.5, but I wouldn't risk it. Tampa in a close one. Lightning win 3-2
Betting trends
Hurricanes are 63-38 after a division game the last three years.
Hurricanes are 41-19 off a home win the last three years.
Hurricanes are 54-29 after playing a home game the last three years.
Lightning are 68-36 after playing a division game the last three years.
Lightning are 70-42 after winning four of five the last three years.
Lightning are 59-33 after playing a home game the last three years.
Projected lines
Hurricanes:
Teuvo Teravainen -- Sebastian Aho -- Seth Jarvis
Andrei Svechnikov -- Jesperi Kotkaniemi -- Martin Necas
Jordan Martinook -- Jordan Staal -- Jesper Fast
Stefan Noesen -- Paul Stastny -- Derek Stepan
Jaccob Slavin -- Brent Burns
Brady Skjei -- Brett Pesce
Dylan Coghlan -- Jalen Chatfield
Frederik Andersen
Teuvo Teravainen -- Sebastian Aho -- Seth Jarvis
Andrei Svechnikov -- Jesperi Kotkaniemi -- Martin Necas
Jordan Martinook -- Jordan Staal -- Jesper Fast
Stefan Noesen -- Paul Stastny -- Derek Stepan
Jaccob Slavin -- Brent Burns
Brady Skjei -- Brett Pesce
Dylan Coghlan -- Jalen Chatfield
Frederik Andersen
Lightning:
Brandon Hagel -- Brayden Point -- Nikita Kucherov
Alex Killorn -- Nicholas Paul -- Steven Stamkos
Ross Colton -- Vladislav Namestnikov -- Cole Koepke
Corey Perry -- Pierre-Edouard Bellemare -- Pat Maroon
Victor Hedman -- Erik Cernak
Mikhail Sergachev -- Nick Perbix
Ian Cole -- Cal Foote
Andrei Vasilevskiy
Brandon Hagel -- Brayden Point -- Nikita Kucherov
Alex Killorn -- Nicholas Paul -- Steven Stamkos
Ross Colton -- Vladislav Namestnikov -- Cole Koepke
Corey Perry -- Pierre-Edouard Bellemare -- Pat Maroon
Victor Hedman -- Erik Cernak
Mikhail Sergachev -- Nick Perbix
Ian Cole -- Cal Foote
Andrei Vasilevskiy
Statistical leaders
Hurricanes:
Points: Martin Necas -- 13
Goals: Andrei Svechnikov -- 8
Assists: Martin Necas -- 8
Goalie: Frederik Andersen -- 4-2-0, 2.64 GAA, .896 SV%
Lightning:
Points: Nikita Kucherov -- 15
Goals: Steven Stamkos -- 7
Assists: Nikita Kucherov -- 11
Goalie: Andrei Vasilevskiy -- 4-3-0, 2.89 GAA, .902 SV%
Don't miss our champion handicappers' free picks and expert hockey picks today. And if you enjoyed this Carolina Hurricanes - Tampa Bay Lightning prediction, be sure to drop by every day for our daily NHL projections and previews.
Chuck Sommers
About the Author:
Chuck Sommers has camped outside of sportsbooks since he can remember, learning the tricks and nuances of the trade. He still has nightmares of betting $5,000 on the Raiders in the Tuck Rule game but has since turned that to 25 years of veteran handicapping greatness. You can find him mostly in the shadows at the Red Rock or Aliante casinos wondering if the over is cashing on any given Sunday.
