Published Feb 25, 3:35am ET by
Alex Dudley - Betting Preview Analyst and Sports Writer
Last updated Feb 25, 3:35am ET
Credit: Shutterstock
Updated Feb 25, 3:49am ET
Two of the standout teams in the Eastern Conference lock horns when the Tampa Bay Lightning travel to the Carolina Hurricanes on Feb 26. Find our picks here.
The Lightning were in red-hot form before the break for the Winter Olympics, winning five on the bounce.
Meanwhile, the Hurricanes should also be confident of extending their advantage at the top of the Metropolitan Division after winning three straight games before the break.
Rod Brind’Amour’s Carolina Hurricanes return to action following the Winter Olympics on Thursday when they take on the consistent Tampa Bay Lightning.
The Canes have enjoyed a dominant season to this point, as they sit top of the Metropolitan Division. Carolina are unbeaten in regulation time in their last ten, while they have excelled in home games, going 21-8-2.
Seth Jarvis leads the team for goals (28), while Sebastian Aho has also flourished in offensive areas, racking up 57 overall points in 2025-26.
The Tampa Bay Lightning face a busy return to NHL action this week, facing the Toronto Maple Leafs on Wednesday before travelling to Carolina on Thursday.
They have shown excellent form throughout the season to sit top of their division, while they have been prolific on their travels, going 19-5-4.
Nikita Kucherov has been one of the standout offensive players in the NHL this term, scoring a team-high 29 goals and a staggering 91 points in 2025-26.
| TOTAL | Lightning | Hurricanes | DRAWS | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WINS | 166 | 82 | 74 | - |
| GOALS | 948 | 464 | 486 |
This should be a high-quality showdown between two of the best teams in the Eastern Conference. However, the fact that the Lightning play on back-to-back nights shouldn’t be dismissed. Meanwhile, the Canes have won 52% of their home games against their opponents on Thursday.
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Pick
Carolina Hurricanes
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