Hurricanes at Lightning
THE STORY: The Tampa Bay Lightning continue their quest for their first win of 2012 when they host the Southeast Division-rival Carolina Hurricanes on Thursday. Tampa Bay has gone 0-3-1 since posting a 5-2 home victory over Carolina on Dec. 31 but is 4-0-1 in its last five contests at the Tampa Bay Times Forum. The Hurricanes have lost six straight road games and four of five overall. Their four road wins are the fewest in the Eastern Conference and 29th in the league, ahead of only the Anaheim Ducks (three).
TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, FSN (Carolina), Sun Sports (Tampa Bay)
ABOUT THE HURRICANES (14-23-7): There's an outside chance Jeff Skinner could be in the lineup. The reigning Calder Trophy winner, who has not played since Dec. 7 due to a concussion, has been cleared for contact in practice and hopes to get the go-ahead to play against Tampa Bay. "It’s not up to me," he said. "The doctors, trainers and coaching staff will make the
decision for me, so the pressure is kind of off me in that way."
ABOUT THE LIGHTNING (17-20-4): Steven Stamkos has been finding the back of the net with regularity, scoring 13 times over his last 12 games. He recorded his second hat trick of the season in the Dec. 31 triumph over Carolina. The 2010 Maurice Richard Trophy winner leads the NHL with 29 tallies. Dwayne Roloson is winless since Nov. 17, going 0-5-1 and allowing three goals or more in nine appearances since. Tampa Bay's power play has been unproductive of late as it is 0-for-12 in its last four games and just 2-for-33 over the past 10 contests.
OVERTIME:
1. Carolina has lost 10 of its last 11 games against division rivals.
2. The Lightning have won four of five overall meetings with the Hurricanes and five of seven matchups in Tampa Bay.