The Carolina Hurricanes (36-15-6) host the Tampa Bay Lightning (38-14-4) at Lenovo Center in Raleigh, North Carolina on February 26, 2026, starting at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN+. The Hurricanes rank second and the Lightning first in the Eastern Conference.
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Hurricanes vs. Lightning: Feb. 26 Viewing Options
- Date: Thursday, February 26, 2026
- Time: 7 p.m. ET
- How to watch on TV: ESPN+
- Location: Raleigh, North Carolina
- Venue: Lenovo Center
- Live Stream: Watch this game on ESPN+
Hurricanes' 2025-26 Stats
| Stat | Per-Game Average | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Goals Scored | 3.39 | 6th |
| Goals Allowed | 2.81 | 6th |
| Shots | 31.7 | 2nd |
| Shots Allowed | 24.2 | 1st |
| Power Play % | 21.59% | 13th |
| Penalty Kill % | 80.75% | 11th |
Lightning's 2025-26 Stats
| Stat | Per-Game Average | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Goals Scored | 3.55 | 2nd |
| Goals Allowed | 2.5 | 2nd |
| Shots | 28.2 | 15th |
| Shots Allowed | 26.4 | 7th |
| Power Play % | 21.35% | 14th |
| Penalty Kill % | 83.52% | 5th |
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Hurricanes vs. Lightning Top Players
Hurricanes
- Sebastian Aho is one of Carolina's top contributors this season with 57 points. He has averaged 0.4 goals per game, shooting 15.6%.
- With 21 goals and 28 assists, Andrei Svechnikov is one of the top contributors for Carolina with his 49 points (0.9 per game).
- Through 57 games, Nikolaj Ehlers has proven himself as a contributor for Carolina. He has 43 points (14 goals and 29 assists).
- In the 27 games Brandon Bussi has played this season, his save percentage is .907, 16th in the league.
Lightning
- Nikita Kucherov's 30 goals and 64 assists in 52 games for Tampa Bay add up to 94 total points on the season.
- Jake Guentzel is one of the impact players on offense for Tampa Bay with 60 total points (1.1 per game), with 26 goals and 34 assists in 56 games.
- Brandon Hagel has posted 27 goals on the season, chipping in 27 assists.
- Andrei Vasilevskiy has a .920 save percentage (third-best in the league), with 910 total saves, giving up 80 goals (2.1 goals against average). He has put together a 28-7-3 record this season.
Hurricanes vs. Lightning Injury Report
Hurricanes
Eric Robinson: Out (Upper Body),
Pyotr Kochetkov: Out For Season (Undisclosed)
Lightning
Max Crozier: Out (Abdomen),
Nicholas Paul: Out (Undisclosed),
Anthony Cirelli: Day-To-Day (Undisclosed)
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Hurricanes' Schedule
| Date | Opponent | Score | Home/Away |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2/1/2026 | Kings | W 3-2 | Home |
| 2/3/2026 | Senators | W 4-3 | Home |
| 2/5/2026 | Rangers | W 2-0 | Away |
| 2/26/2026 | Lightning | - | Home |
| 2/28/2026 | Red Wings | - | Home |
| 3/2/2026 | Kraken | - | Away |
| 3/4/2026 | Canucks | - | Away |
Lightning's Schedule
| Date | Opponent | Score | Home/Away |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2/3/2026 | Sabres | W 4-3 | Home |
| 2/5/2026 | Panthers | W 6-1 | Home |
| 2/25/2026 | Maple Leafs | W 4-2 | Home |
| 2/26/2026 | Hurricanes | - | Away |
| 2/28/2026 | Sabres | - | Home |
| 3/3/2026 | Wild | - | Away |
| 3/5/2026 | Jets | - | Away |