Tampa Bay at Carolina

Tampa Bay is 20-1-1 in its past 22 games. Yet the Lightning find themselves a mid-size road underdog against the Hurricanes. Yes, Carolina is very good, and the Lightning are playing without rest. But this is a spot where it is good to have played a game following the three-week Olympic break. Tampa Bay was solid again in defeating the Maple Leafs, 4-2, at home on Wednesday night. That was the Lightning's sixth consecutive victory. Carolina is 8-4 in its last 12 games, but hasn't played since Feb. 5. It is asking a lot for the Hurricanes to put together an "A" type of performance against a sizzling opponent when they haven't played for so long. Carolina has managed to win by just one goal during four of its last six victories. Tampa Bay is averaging 4.8 goals in its last five games. The Lightning are No. 2 in scoring at 3.5 goals a game. The Hurricanes have scored more than three goals only once in their last four games. Take the Lightning.