The first-place team in the Eastern Conference, the Carolina Hurricanes (22-9-3), visit the 10th-ranked Tampa Bay Lightning (18-13-3) at Benchmark International Arena on Saturday at 7 p.m. ET.
Tampa Bay fell 2-1 at home in its last game on Dec. 18 against the Los Angeles Kings.
Carolina lost on the road 4-3 to the Florida Panthers on Dec. 19 in its most recent game, falling 2-1 in a shootout.
Before watching this matchup, here is what you need to know about Saturday’s action on the ice.
Watch Lightning vs. Hurricanes on Fubo! (Regional restrictions may apply)
Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Carolina Hurricanes odds and betting lines
NHL odds courtesy of BetMGM Sportsbook. Odds updated Saturday at 1:51 a.m. ET. For a full list of sports betting odds, access USA TODAY Sports Betting Scores Odds Hub.
Favorite: Lightning (-117)Underdog: Hurricanes (-102)Over/under: 5.5Lightning vs. Hurricanes game info and start timeDate: Saturday, December 20, 2025Time: 7 p.m. ETTV channel: ESPN+Live stream: Watch on Fubo (Regional restrictions may apply)Live stream: Watch on ESPN+
Watch Lightning vs. Hurricanes on Fubo! (Regional restrictions may apply)
Lightning stats and trendsIn 25 games as the moneyline favorite this season, Tampa Bay has won 12 of those games.The Lightning have won 12 of the 25 games they have played with moneyline odds shorter than -117.Per the moneyline odds, Tampa Bay has a 53.9% chance of winning this contest.Tampa Bay and its opponent have gone over the current 5.5-goal total in 17 of 34 games this season.In their last 10 matchups, the Lightning are 3-6-1 to earn 60.0% of the possible points.They have averaged 2.7 goals per game (27 total) during that stretch.Over on the defensive side, the Lightning have given up 23 goals (2.3 per game) in those 10 matchups.Hurricanes stats and trendsThis season the Hurricanes have one wins in the three games in which they’ve been an underdog.Carolina has played with moneyline odds of -102 or longer two times this season, and split 1-1.Sportsbooks have implied, based on the moneyline for this matchup, that the Hurricanes have a 50.5% chance to win.Carolina’s games have gone over 5.5 goals in 20 of 34 chances this season.In their last 10 matchups, the Hurricanes have gone 7-2-1 to earn 80.0% of the possible points.They are scoring at a 2.7 goals-per-game average (27 total) during that stretch.On the defensive side, the Hurricanes have given up 22 goals (2.2 per game) in those 10 matchups.