Tampa Bay Lightning vs Carolina Hurricanes Prediction 2/26/2026 Today’s NHL Picks

The Tampa Bay Lightning and Carolina Hurricanes meet Thursday in NHL action at the Lenovo Center. Here’s a Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Carolina Hurricanes prediction. This article will include a Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Carolina Hurricanes pick.

Tampa Bay Lightning Betting Preview

The Tampa Bay Lightning beat the Panthers and Maple Leafs, and they play the Sabres next. The Lightning have won 13 of their last 15 games.

The Tampa Bay Lightning are averaging 3.55 goals per game and are scoring on 21.9 percent of their power-play opportunities. Nikita Kucherov leads Tampa Bay with 30 goals; Darren Raddysh has 35 assists; and Jake Guentzel has 147 shots on goal. Defensively, the Tampa Bay Lightning are allowing 2.5 goals per game and are killing 83.5 percent of their opponent’s power plays. Andrei Vasilevskiy has allowed 80 goals on 994 shots faced, while Jonas Johansson has given up 53 goals on 483 shots.

Carolina Hurricanes Betting Preview

The Carolina Hurricanes beat the Rangers and Senators, and they play the Red Wings next. The Hurricanes have won 8 of their last 10 games.

The Carolina Hurricanes are averaging 3.39 goals per game and are scoring on 21.6 percent of their power play opportunities. Seth Jarvis leads Carolina with 25 goals, Sebastian Aho has 37 assists, and Andrei Svechnikov has 151 shots on goal. Defensively, the Carolina Hurricanes are allowing 2.81 goals per game and are killing 80.6 percent of their opponent’s power plays. Frederik Andersen has given up 72 goals on 560 shots faced, while Brandon Bussi has allowed 59 goals on 631 shots.

Why the Carolina Hurricanes will win

• The Hurricanes have won nine of their last 10 games against opponents who are on the second leg of a back-to-back.
• The Lightning have failed to cover the puck line in five of their last six night games on the second leg of a back-to-back.
• The Hurricanes have covered the puck line in each of their last three games when playing with a rest advantage against the Lightning.
• The Lightning have lost the second period in five of their last six games as underdogs following a home win.

Why the Tampa Bay Lightning will win

• The Lightning have won each of their last 12 night games following a home win.
• The Lightning have covered the puck line in each of their last eight games as road underdogs.
• The Hurricanes have failed to cover the puck line in each of their last six games at Lenovo Center when playing with a rest advantage.
• The Lightning have won the third period in seven of their last eight games when leading after the second period.

Total Goals Facts

• Eight of the Hurricanes’ last nine night games against Atlantic Division opponents have gone OVER the total goals line.
• Seven of the Lightning’s last eight games against the Hurricanes following a home win have gone UNDER the total goals line.
• Seven of the last eight Thursday night games at the Lenovo Center have gone OVER the total goals line.
• The ‘Over 1.5 Goals Period 3′ market has hit in each of the Hurricanes’ last eight games as home favorites against the Lightning.
• The ‘Over 1.5 Goals Period 3’ market has hit in each of the Lightning’s last six games at Lenovo Center.

Carolina Hurricanes Player Prop Facts

• Jordan Staal has scored a goal in each of the Hurricanes’ last four games at Lenovo Center.
• Sebastian Aho has recorded at least one assist in each of the Hurricanes’ last eight games against Atlantic Division opponents at Lenovo Center.
• Jackson Blake has recorded at least four shots in each of his last zero appearances—the [longest/equal-longest] active streak in the league.

Tampa Bay Lightning Player Prop Facts

• Nikita Kucherov has scored at least one goal in eight of the Lightning’s last 10 games against Eastern Conference opponents.
• Nikita Kucherov has recorded at least one assist in each of the Lightning’s last six games as underdogs.
• Nikita Kucherov ranks 1st in the league for multi-point games (32) this season.

Matchup/League Facts

• The Carolina Hurricanes rank 6th in the league for goals against per game this season (2.81).
• The Carolina Hurricanes rank 1st in the league for shots against per game this season (24.4).
• The Tampa Bay Lightning are one of only two teams in the league to rank in the top 5 for both goals for and goals against per game this season.
• The Tampa Bay Lightning rank 5th in the league in penalty kill percentage this season (83.52%).

Tampa Bay Lightning vs Carolina Hurricanes Prediction

The Hurricanes are going to get the benefit of the donut at home and they’ve won 4 of the last 5 games against the Lightning. However, I like that the Lightning got a game under their belt from the break, as it can take some time to get back in the swing of things. Also, as good as the Hurricanes are, especially at home, we’re getting plus money with a Lightning side that’s lost two games since December 19. I can’t turn down this price with the road team. Give me the Lightning.

Randy Chambers's Pick: Tampa Bay Lightning