Carolina Hurricanes vs Tampa Bay Lightning Picks and Predictions March 11th 2025

New Hurricanes Jankowski, Stankoven Ready for Lightning Rivalry

The Carolina Hurricanes have wasted no time putting their new acquisitions to work. Now, it’s about seeing how they settle in as the season heats up.

Carolina will get a real test Tuesday night when they face a red-hot Tampa Bay Lightning squad in Raleigh, N.C. With both teams jockeying for playoff position, this matchup could have major implications down the road.

New Faces, Immediate Impact

Mark Jankowski and Logan Stankoven have already made their presence felt in Carolina.

Jankowski, acquired from Nashville at the trade deadline, scored twice in his Hurricanes debut on Sunday against Winnipeg. Stankoven, the lone return in the blockbuster Mikko Rantanen trade with Dallas, also found the net in his first game.

Both players are adjusting quickly, with Jankowski crediting strong linemates for his seamless transition.

“A big part of it is confidence, coming in here and playing with some great linemates,” he said.

Stankoven, though happy with his debut, believes he has much more to offer.

“It’s always nice to contribute right away,” he said. “I felt personally that I can give a lot more. It definitely wasn’t my best (Sunday night), and I know it’s going to take a bit of time to get used to my linemates and the system.”

Coach Rod Brind’Amour acknowledges that these transitions aren’t easy, but he’s encouraged by the early results.

“Any time you come somewhere new, there’s an adjustment period,” Brind’Amour said. “To be able to contribute in that fashion is a great way to start for them.”

Lightning Look to Bounce Back After Shutout Loss

Tampa Bay comes into the game having won 10 of its last 12, but their momentum was halted by a 4-0 loss to Boston on Saturday. It was an uncharacteristic night for the Lightning, who had scored six goals in each of their two previous games.

“You can definitely learn from that as a group,” Lightning forward Brandon Hagel said. “This league’s not easy to win in … but at the end of the day, we have a really good hockey team in here.”

The biggest question mark for Tampa Bay is the status of captain Victor Hedman, who missed Saturday’s game with a lower-body injury. His availability could be a key factor against a Hurricanes squad that’s surging.

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Hurricanes Riding Four-Game Winning Streak

While Tampa Bay searches for consistency, Carolina has been rolling. The Hurricanes have won four straight and continue to prove they’re one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference.

With only two points separating these teams in the standings, this game is critical in the race for playoff positioning. The last time they met, Tampa Bay edged out a 3-2 win in January with Pyotr Kochetkov in net for Carolina. Based on the team’s goalie rotation, he is expected to start again Tuesday night.

Can Carolina Solve Tampa Bay This Time?

The Lightning have already beaten the Hurricanes twice this season, including a 4-1 win in the season opener in Raleigh. But with Carolina playing at a high level and their new additions making an immediate impact, they’ll be looking to turn the tide in this rivalry.

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Will the Hurricanes continue their winning streak, or can Tampa Bay bounce back and extend their dominance over Carolina this season? One thing’s for sure—this is shaping up to be a must-watch showdown.