The Carolina Hurricanes (36-15-6) square off against the Tampa Bay Lightning (37-14-4) in NHL action on Thursday, starting at 7 p.m. ET at Lenovo Center and broadcast on ESPN+. The Hurricanes rank second with 78 points and the Lightning are first with 78 points 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
Lightning’s 2025-26 Stats
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Hurricanes vs. Lightning Top Players
Hurricanes
With 20 goals and 37 assists this season, Sebastian Aho is one of Carolina’s top contributors (57 points).
Andrei Svechnikov has 21 goals and 28 assists for Carolina to compile 49 total points (0.9 per game).
On 139 shots (for 14 goals) and 29 assists, Nikolaj Ehlers has recorded 43 points this season.
As Carolina’s top goalie, Brandon Bussi has recorded 23 wins and 3 losses this season while giving up 59 goals with 566 saves.
Lightning
Nikita Kucherov has totaled 29 goals and 62 assists in 51 games for Tampa Bay, good for 91 points.
Jake Guentzel has helped lead the offense for Tampa Bay this season with 26 goals and 34 assists.
Brandon Hagel’s 27 goals and 27 assists add up to 54 points this season.
Andrei Vasilevskiy has a 27-7-3 record this season, with a .919 save percentage (third-best in the league). He has 878 saves, and has conceded 78 goals (2.1 goals against average).
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: Out (Undisclosed)
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Hurricanes’ Schedule