The Hurricanes head to Tampa Bay for a clash of Eastern Conference giants. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:08 p.m. EST.

Carolina finished the month of October winning three of four games. The Hurricanes are led in scoring by Andrei Svechnikov who has tallied eight goals in his first nine games. Carolina already has three skaters in double-digit points as Svechnikov and Sebastian Aho have 10 each and Martin Necas has 13 points. Both Hurricane goaltenders have been good thus far. Antti Raanta and Frederik Andersen both have goals against averages under 2.65, while Raanta has a save percentage of .912.

Tampa Bay comes into tonight’s game winners of three straight and five of its last six games. The Lightning are scoring as usual in the early going as Steven Stamkos leads the team in goals with seven. Tampa also has three skater in double-digit points. Brayden Point (10), Stamkos (11) and Nikita Kucherov (15) lead the Bolts in production. Andrei Vasilevskiy has been good, but not great, in his first seven games. The Russian is 4-3-0 with a 2.89 GAA and a .902 SV%. Defenseman Victor Hedman is doubtful tonight with what is being reported as an “upper-body” injury. 

Carolina took two of the three games and five of six points from Tampa Bay last season. While the Lightning did drop two of three last season, the Bolts were still able to capture a third point due to an overtime loss. Tonight’s probable goaltenders are Andersen for the Hurricanes and Vasilevskiy for the Lightning.