Welcome to the latest edition of NHL Predictions. Each day, the team here at Last Word on Hockey will dive deep into analysis for any given game to give you the scoop on what elements can change the outcome. Today, we’re looking at the contest between the Carolina Hurricanes and the Tampa Bay Lightning. Be sure to keep an eye on our other NHL Predictions as the season presses on.
NHL Predictions
Carolina Hurricanes at Tampa Bay Lightning
Time: 7:00 PM Eastern Standard Time (EST)
TV: FDSNSO; FDSNSUN; ESPN+
The Carolina Hurricanes will be taking a trip to sunshiny Tampa for their second match against the Tampa Bay Lightning this season. Originally, this game was intended to be the second game of each team’s respective seasons. However, Hurricane Milton’s landfall in early October resulted in the game’s postponement until a later date. Today is that makeup game.
The Carolina Story
This set of NHL Predictions will start with the Carolina Hurricanes. In their most recent game, the Canes took on the Pittsburgh Penguins. The beginning of the game didn’t spell an easy match for Carolina, as Kevin Hayes and Michael Bunting scored to give the Pens a two-goal lead within just five minutes after play began. The rest of the first period went scoreless for both teams.
The second period saw some early action, this time with a goal from Seth Jarvis before five minutes had been played. With over half of the second frame gone, Jalen Chatfield was able to find twine, as well, tying the game. Moments later, Jarvis snapped in another shot to give Carolina the lead before the end of the period. As the final 20 started, Erik Karlsson struck quickly with a slapshot to erase the Canes one-goal lead and tie the game. The minutes ticked away with no more scores, ultimately leading to overtime.
Within a minute and a half of extra hockey played, Sebastian Aho ended the game with a snapshot off of Dmitry Orlov’s rebound to win the game. Both teams went 0-for-3 on the powerplay, while Aho and Jarvis achieved career milestones. Sebastian Aho became only the third player in franchise history to reach 600 career points, after picking up three in the game, while also recording his 14th overtime goal – giving him the most out of any other Finnish player in NHL history. Meanwhile, Jarvis achieved his 100th NHL Career assist, having given a helper to Chatfield on his goal.
What a Finnish!
Sebastian Aho is only the third to reach 600 points in a Carolina Hurricanes sweater!
In a nail-biter game, the Canes overcame a two-goal deficit against the Pittsburgh Penguins. In OT, the flyin’ fish flopped it in on an Orlov rebound.#RaiseUp #LetsGoPens #NHL pic.twitter.com/NZz1Y1kxWs— Queen of the Puck (@rbarkleyhockey) January 6, 2025
The Tampa Bay Story
The Bolts previous game against the Anaheim Ducks was not what many wanted to see. For the previous three games, they had come up without a win, and it didn’t change with the Ducks. Now sitting on a four-game losing streak, they have dropped to fourth place in the Atlantic Division with just 42 points. In the last four games, they have only been able to generate five goals while allowing 13. Against the Ducks, they allowed four, while the only player to score was, ironically, former Carolina Hurricanes and Pittsburgh Penguins player, Jake Guentzel.
Jake Guentzel (#59) one times it home on the power play for his 21st goal of the season! Nikita Kucherov (#86) and Brayden Point (#21) pick up the assists.#GoBolts
pic.twitter.com/AHyBju9G15— Future Bolts (@LightningProsp1) January 6, 2025
Prediction
As of late, both teams have struggled through slumps. From points generated below their averages to staggering losses, the buzz surrounding these topics have been increasingly noticeable. Currently, the Canes record for their last 10 games is 5-4-1 with a points percentage of .625%. Meanwhile, the Lightning are 5-5-0 with a points percentage of .568%.
As for current injuries, Tampa Bay is only missing one player, J.J. Moser, to a lower-body injury. However, Carolina remains with quite a few out. Of course, Frederik Andersen and Jesper Fast remain out, with the latter expected to miss his entire season. Meanwhile, Shayne Gostisbehere and Tyson Jost are also anticipated to be out for a while longer. William Carrier missed Sunday’s tilt with the Penguins due to a lower-body injury, and whether he will be available for tonight’s game is not known at the time of writing this NHL Prediction.
Considering both of these teams’ previous week, and the elements from it, the game leans into a toss-up. Typically, both of these teams work hard to limit scoring chances on their nets, keeping the shots against well below league average. Additionally, with that comes keeping the puck in the offensive zone to maximize their own scoring chances.
Special teams will always be something to strongly consider between these two. Tampa is one of the top teams in power play percentage, with 26.36%. Meanwhile, Carolina is one of the top teams for penalty killing, with 85.37%. Furthermore, while Tampa’s penalty kill is a bit lower than Carolina’s, they’re one of the leaders in shorthanded goals, coming in second league-wide with seven. Finally, coming back from a California sweep in their last three games, jet lag could factor into the Bolts game. Both of these teams have a chance to take the win, and if they play at their best, it’ll be a very entertaining game.
Prediction: Hurricanes win 4-3
Prop Bets for the Night
For the Canes, Sunday’s game showed a spark that has been missed for quite a while. Two of the top players on the team, Sebastian Aho and Seth Jarvis, landed some goals on the board, with Jarvis breaking a seven-game goal drought, and could very well be a good choice for a wager. A player who has been receiving a bit of attention due to his own lack of scoring, but has been showing motivation to get his name on the board, is Andrei Svechnikov. A bit of a gamble, but may be a decent payout if he manages to score.
For the Bolts, one of the most consistent players lately has been Jake Guentzel. In his last 10 games, he has scored eight times, including a hat-trick in mid-December. Considering he will likely want to get one in on his former team before the final horn, he may be the safest choice. Additionally, I would keep an eye on The Russian Rifle, Nikita Kucherov, for the upcoming game, as well. In his last game against Carolina, he scored a hat trick. Furthermore, in their final game against each other last season, he scored twice.
Main Photo Credit: James Guillory-Imagn Images
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The post NHL Predictions: January 7 Carolina Hurricanes vs Tampa Bay Lightning appeared first on Last Word On Hockey.