Carolina Hurricanes at Tampa Bay Lightning Betting Preview/Prop Picks

ESPN Hockey Night is back on Tuesday night for a huge matchup in the Eastern Conference and a potential playoff preview. The Tampa Bay Lightning host the Carolina Hurricanes, and this should be the best game of the night.

Carolina comes into this game with 95 points on the year, and they are currently on top of the Eastern Conference standings. The Hurricanes have won two straight games, including an impressive 6-1 win over the Washington Capitals on Monday night.

Tampa Bay is currently in second place in the Atlantic Division with 88 points on the year, but they would like to move up. The Lightning have also won two straight games, but that came after a disappointing losing streak.

The Tampa Bay Lightning are -140 over the Carolina Hurricanes in this NHL showdown on Tuesday night.

Carolina Crushing Teams With Offense

The Carolina Hurricanes are one of the best offensive teams in the league, especially when they are on the power play. Carolina is scoring 3.35 goals per game this season, and they just scored six on Monday night. 

Sebastian Aho has become one of the top players in the NHL, and he is having a monster season for the Hurricanes. Aho leads the team with 29 goals and 65 total points, but he has been getting some help from his teammates. 

Goaltender Frederik Andersen sets the tone for the defense, and that unit doesn't always get enough recognition. Carolina shut down a great Washington offense Monday, and they are giving up just 2.35 goals per game. 

Lightning Have to Defend

If the Lightning are going to make a statement and win this game, then they have to defend. Tampa Bay is allowing more than 2.7 goals per game this season, but they have the ability to be better than that.

Special teams' play has been a bit disappointing for the Lightning as they have killed off just 80 percent of their penalties while scoring on the power play 21 percent of the time. Goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy has gone 33-14-2 in net this season, and he will need to be great in this matchup. 

Victor Hedman and Steven Stamkos continue to set the tone for the Lightning on offense, but this team is loaded with weapons. Hedman leads the way with 45 assists, while Stamkos has a team-high 29 goals and 70 points. 

Hurricanes Keep on Rolling

The Lightning are always a tough team to deal with in Tampa Bay, but Carolina has been able to win games anywhere. This has the potential to be a high-scoring affair, but the defense from the Hurricanes will give the Lightning some trouble.

There is a good chance that this will be a preview of a playoff matchup in the Eastern Conference, and it should be a terrific game. Carolina just continues to impress nearly every single outing, and they will just be too much for Tampa Bay in the end. 

Bet the Carolina Hurricanes moneyline as they pick up an impressive road win in Tampa Bay against the Lightning.

Prop Picks

Carolina (+200) OVER 3.5 Goals

Carolina is averaging 3.3 goals per game, which ranks No. 8 in the league, on 33.8 shots per game, which ranks No. 9. Scores have gone OVER in 11 of the Hurricanes’ last 16 road games.

With Dunkel predicting a Carolina victory by the score of 4-3, take the Hurricanes (+200) to finish OVER their Vegas team total of 3.5 goals against the Lightning.

Sebastian Aho (-160) OVER 0.5 Points

Aho has 65 points on the season and 29 goals, both of which rank No. 1 on the Hurricanes. He has scored at least one point in each of his last four games and 30 points in 32 games on the road this season.

With Dunkel predicting Carolina going OVER its Vegas team total, take Aho (-160) to continue his hot hand and go OVER 0.5 points against the Lightning.

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