Preview: Lightning vs. Hurricanes

On the heels of an emotional shootout victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins, the Carolina Hurricanes will now face off against the Tampa Bay Lightning, the team that will finish atop the NHL standings.
With 10 games left to play in the regular season, the Hurricanes now trail the Penguins by just two points for third place in the Metropolitan Division.

Emotional Victory
Head coach Rod Brind'Amour had a big smile on his face as he left the bench following Petr Mrazek's third consecutive save in the shootout on Tuesday night.
Mrazek emphatically fist pumped his way into Dougie Hamilton's outstretched arms, a team victory hug ensuing in front of the Canes' bench.
"Everyone was smiling in here," Brind'Amour said after practice on Wednesday. "I just love to see the guys - I'm in here with them. I know how hard they work for it. To see the emotion come out like that, especially in that kind of win when we're down and out there. You don't see too many comebacks like that. It just doesn't happen."
It doesn't, but it did.
Down 2-1 in the waning minutes of the third period, the Canes pulled Mrazek for the extra skater, drew up a play, controlled the ensuing faceoff and executed. Simple shot. Simple rebound. Simple goal.
"I drew up the same kind of play in overtime for a power play, and that sure didn't work," Brind'Amour chuckled after the game. "Those things happen. It's one in a million, usually, that it works."
But it did.
Hamilton then netted the lone shootout goal, and Mrazek denied a skilled trio of Penguins to award the Canes the extra point. A big game, and a bigger win.
Worthy of a smile or two, for sure.
"You've always got to believe that you can do it. See it. Think it. Do it," said Justin Williams, who scored the game-tying goal late in regulation. "If we're thinking it and believing it, then the next process is doing it. We've been pretty good with that this year."
Homestand Continues
Thursday's match-up with the Lightning marks the third game in a set of five straight at home for the Canes, who have earned 20 wins at home and 20 wins on the road for the second time in franchise history (2005-06).
PROJECTED LINEUP
The Hurricanes are 4-1-0 in their last five home games. Crowds have been rambunctious, the energy in the building contagious.
It's a playoff-like atmosphere on and off the ice.
"The fun part is, we're playing playoff hockey and it hasn't started yet," Williams said on Tuesday night. "You don't know how far you can go or how good you can play until you get out there until you do it. We're playing well, and we're going to see where it takes us and how good we can be."
The Last Meeting
This run that the Hurricanes have been on - 25-8-2 in their last 35 games - began on New Year's Eve and continued with five straight wins. Then, the Canes ran into the Lightning in Tampa Bay. Trailing by a goal heading into the third period, the Bolts then connected on two power plays to take a 3-1 win.
The Opposition
Tampa Bay, a team that is now just five wins shy of tying the league's single-season wins record, already clinched the Presidents' Trophy prior to any other Eastern Conference team even securing a playoff berth. On Wednesday night, the Bolts topped the Washington Capitals in overtime, 5-4. Nikita Kucherov, the league's leading scorer, netted a pair of goals, and Victor Hedman posted the game-winner.
"Championship-caliber teams just know how to do it right," Brind'Amour said. "You know what you're going to get out of them. You don't want to take penalties. They're going to expose you there, for sure. That skill that they have, it's off the charts. It's as good as there's ever been, I think."
ADVANCE AUTO PARTS KEYS TO THE GAME

1. Responsibility
The Canes will need to look after their own end of the ice tonight against a dangerous Tampa Bay club. Be responsible, stick to the game plan and limit the opposition's chances, especially in and around the net.
2. Counter Attack
Turn responsible defense into an attack going the other way. The Canes own one of the league's most potent offenses since Dec. 31, and they'll need their best offensive players to come through tonight.
3. Discipline
Stay out of the box! The Lightning's power play is lethal and can strike in an instance. Taking penalties will make the game unnecessarily tough on the Canes.
AT THE RINK
With the weather (hopefully? maybe?) getting warmer soon, it's time to trim a bit - or, everything, really - off the top for a good cause. Yes, it's St. Baldrick's Night once again. A team of stylists from SportClips will shave heads on PNC Arena's South Plaza beginning at 4:30 p.m., and Hurricanes fans who
register to shave and raise money
to fund life-saving childhood cancer research will receive two tickets to the game.
The 50/50 cash jackpot continues to build toward March 30. Tonight's non-cash prize is a two-for: a Sebastian Aho autographed replica stick and a Justin Williams signed puck. Full raffle details and ticket prices can be found
here
.
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