Tampa Bay at Carolina

This is  key Southeast Division game with Carolina having the all-important home ice. After a hot start, Tampa Bay's defense has withered. That was a big problem last year, and now rank No. 25 in goals allowed. They are 2-4 on the road and have slipped out of the playoffs seedings. Even the offense has suffered with Tampa Bay producing only three power-play goals in the last 30 attempts. Tampa Bay is on a 2-7 run and the Lightning is 16-35 in their last 51 road games. They come off a 4-2 loss at home to the Boston Bruins on Thursday and now start a grueling stretch, with six road games in the next seven. While Tampa Bay has fallen out of the playoffs seedings, Carolina is seated third in the East on a 6-3-1 run their last 10 games despite dropping the last two. Carolina plays six of the next nine at home, ranks No. 6 in the NHL in goals scored and will have little trouble scoring on the defenseless and sinking Lightning. And the Hurricanes are 4-1 in their last five games playing on one days rest. Play Carolina.