Facts and Figures: Lightning, Senators to reach milestone together

It's been 26 years since the Tampa Bay Lightning and Ottawa Senators entered the NHL at the start of the 1992-93 season, so it's appropriate that its 23rd and 24th teams will face off in the 2,000th regular-season game for each at Canadian Tire Centre on Sunday (7 p.m. ET; NHLN, SN, TVAS, SUN, NHL.TV).

The Lightning own the edge on the Senators in Stanley Cup championships (1-0) and appearances in the Cup Final (2-1). But the Senators have the better numbers during the regular season.
Ottawa enters Sunday at 899-837-148 with 115 ties (2,061 points) in 1,999 games; Tampa Bay is 853-896-138 with 112 ties (1,956 points). The Senators have also gotten the better of the Lightning head to head. Ottawa is 56-34-6 against Tampa Bay; the Lightning are 40-48-8 -- two other games ended in ties. The Senators have had two seasons (2002-03 and 2005-06) when they finished with 113 points, a total the Lightning didn't match until 2017-18. Ottawa won the Presidents' Trophy in 2002-03, the Lightning have yet to finish first in the regular season.
\[RELATED: Senators to host Lightning in 2,000th NHL game for each team\]
Ottawa also won the only Stanley Cup Playoff series between the teams, eliminating Tampa Bay in five games in the 2006 Eastern Conference Quarterfinals.
Tampa Bay won the Cup in 2004 and advanced to the Final in 2015, losing to the Chicago Blackhawks in six games. Ottawa's lone trip to the Final came in 2007, when it lost to the Anaheim Ducks in five games. Tampa Bay also was the first to qualify for the playoffs (1996, one year ahead of Ottawa).
However, the Senators have qualified for the playoffs more often than the Lightning (16-10). Ottawa qualified for the playoffs in 11 consecutive seasons (1996-97 through 2007-08). Tampa Bay's longest run is four seasons (2002-03, 2003-04, 2005-06, 2006-07).
However, the Lightning look like a far better bet to make the playoffs this season. They lead the Atlantic Division at 9-3-1. At 5-6-2, the Senators are sixth.

Flames won't quit

The Calgary Flames are making third-period comebacks into an art form.
The Flames earned their NHL-best fifth win this season in a game they trailed after two periods by rallying for three third-period goals in
a 5-3 victory
against the Blackhawks on Saturday.
Calgary has already matched its total of third-period comebacks from last season. Saturday also was the third time this season the Flames have won in regulation when trailing entering the third period. The other 30 teams have combined for eight such comeback wins.
It was also the second straight game the Flames won after trailing by two or more goals. Calgary was down 4-1 entering the third period against the Colorado Avalanche on Thursday but scored five unanswered goals in
a 6-5 victory
.
Not surprisingly, the Flames lead the NHL in third-period goals (28).

Coyotes thriving while shorthanded

If only the Arizona Coyotes' power play was as good as its penalty kill.
The Coyotes scored their NHL-high seventh shorthanded goal in
a 4-3 overtime victory
against the Carolina Hurricanes on Friday. Those seven shorthanded goals have come during 38 opposition power plays (18.4 percent). Arizona has allowed three power-play goals for a 92.1 percent rate that's second in the NHL behind the Lightning (93.9 percent).
The seven shorthanded goals are five more than the Coyotes scored all last season, when they were last with two and 19th on the penalty kill at 79.5 percent (46-for-225).
The penalty killers are also outperforming the Coyotes' power play. Arizona is 5-for-34 (14.7 percent) with the extra man, though they haven't given up a shorthanded goal.

Hurricanes aren't very special

The Carolina Hurricanes could use some of that penalty-killing skill. A little help on the power play would also be useful.
Despite averaging an NHL-high 41.8 shots on goal, the Hurricanes are 6-6-2 through 14 games after
a 3-0 loss
at the Vegas Golden Knights on Saturday, and a major part of Carolina's problem is its special teams.
Though the Hurricanes went 4-for-4 on the penalty kill against the Golden Knights, they have allowed 15 power-play goals on 49 opportunities, a 69.4 percent success rate that's 28th in the NHL.
Carolina is tied with the Nashville Predators for last on the power play; each team is 6-for-51 (11.8 percent). But the Hurricanes are the only team in the bottom five in each category.
The problems on special teams are why the Hurricanes have won six of their first 14 games despite leading the NHL in average shots on goal and fewest shots on goal per game (24.6), as well as outscoring opponents 28-22 at 5-on-5.