Carolina Hurricanes at Tampa Bay Lightning: Lineups and Game Discussion

For the third straight game the Carolina Hurricanes will face off against the Tampa Bay Lightning Wednesday, this time in Amalie Arena in Tampa.

The Canes and Lightning split the first two games of this four game stretch, with the Hurricanes winning game one 4-0 and Tampa Bay taking game two 4-2, both in Raleigh.

For the Hurricanes, Alex Nedeljkovic, who shut out the Lightning in that 4-0 win, will be back in net Wednesday evening for a 5 p.m. puck drop. Defenseman Jake Gardiner will also make his way back into the lineup, with Haydn Fleury a healthy scratch.

Here’s how Rod Brind’Amour’s team is expected to line up Wednesday evening:

Andrei Svechnikov - Sebastian Aho - Brock McGinn
Nino Niederreiter - Vincent Trocheck - Martin Necas
Warren Foegele - Jordan Staal - Jesper Fast
Cedric Paquette - Steven Lorentz - Jordan Martinook

Jaccob Slavin - Dougie Hamilton
Brady Skjei - Brett Pesce
Jake Gardiner - Jake Bean

Alex Nedeljkovic
James Reimer

Injuries and Scratches: Haydn Fleury (healthy), Petr Mrazek (right thumb), Teuvo Teravainen (concussion)
Taxi Squad: Morgan Geekie, Max McCormick, Joakim Ryan

---------------------------

Tampa Bay ended Carolina’s six-game point streak in Raleigh Monday night, and the Lightning returns home Wednesday to an arena where it is 6-1-0 so far this year.

The Lightning got goals from Steven Stamkos, Victor Hedman, Ondrej Palat and Alex Killorn Monday, with Andrei Vasilevskiy getting the win in net. Hedman, Brayden Point and Stamkos enter Wednesday’s game fifth, sixth and seventh, respectively, in the Central Division in points.

Here’s how Jon Cooper’s team should take the ice Wednesday:

Ondrej Palat - Brayden Point - Blake Coleman
Alex Killorn - Tyler Johnson - Steven Stamkos
Barclay Goodrow - Yanni Gourde - Mathieu Joseph
Pat Maroon - Ross Colton - Alexander Volkov

Victor Hedman - Mikhail Sergachev
Ryan McDonagh - Erik Cernak
Jan Rutta - Cal Foote

Andrei Vasilevskiy
Curtis McElhinney

Injuries and Scrtaches: Anthony Cirelli (upper body), Mitchell Stephens (lower body), Nikita Kucherov (LTIR, hip)
Taxi Squad: Alex Barre-Boulet, Ross Colton, Christopher Gibson, Andreas Borgman

Wednesday’s Official
Referees: Wes McCauley (4), Brian Pochmara (16)
Linesmen: Travis Gawryletz (67), Pierre Racicot (65)