Feb. 26, 2026, 6:20 a.m. ET<\/p>\n
The Tampa Bay Lightning<\/a> (38-14-4) and the Carolina Hurricanes<\/a> (36-15-6) meet Thursday at Lenovo Center in Raleigh, North Carolina. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET (ESPN+). Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s<\/a> NHL odds around the Lightning vs. Hurricanes and make our expert NHL picks and predictions<\/a>.<\/p>\n Season series: Lightning lead 1-0<\/p>\n These teams met at Benchmark International Arena in Tampa Dec. 20, with the Lightning winning 6-4 as a moderate favorite (-135) as the Over (5.5) cashed. Carolina fired out to a 3-0 lead after the first period, including 2 power-play goals by F Jackson Blake and F Bradly Nadeau, with the latter now back with Chicago of the AHL. The Lightning outscored the Canes 6-1 in the final 2 periods, with former F Jake Guentzel netting 2 goals.<\/p>\n Tampa Bay doubled up Toronto 4-2 in Tampa Wednesday as heavy favorites (-220) as the total (6) pushed. F Brayden Point led the way with 2 goals, while G Andrei Vasilevskiy stopped 32 of 34 shots in the win. The Lightning have won 6 in a row, while going 20-1-1 in the past 22 games. The Over is 3-0-1 in the past 4 games, with the Lightning going for 4+ goals in 5 in a row.<\/p>\n Carolina posted a 2-0 win over the New York Rangers<\/a> as heavy favorites (-220) as the Under (6) easily hit Feb. 5 in the last game prior to the break. Calder and Vezina Trophy candidate G Brandon Bussi stopped 16 shots, while F Andrei Svechnikov had the game-winning goal and Jordan Staal added an empty-net goal.<\/p>\n The Hurricanes are also red-hot lately, going 8-0-2 in the past 10 games, while the Over has a slight 3-2 edge in the past 5 outings. Carolina has won 3 in a row at home, while going 8-0-1 in the past 9 games since Jan. 6. The Over is 6-3 in the 9-game span.<\/p>\n Watch the NHL on Fubo!<\/a>Lightning at Hurricanes odds<\/p>\n Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook<\/a>; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub<\/a> for a full list. Lines last updated at 6:16 a.m. ET.<\/p>\n Moneyline (ML): Lightning +125 (bet $100 to win $125) | Hurricanes -150 (bet $150 to win $100)Puck line (PL)\/Against the spread (ATS): Lightning +1.5 (-190) | Hurricanes -1.5 (+155)Over\/Under (O\/U): 6 (O: -118 | U: -102)Lightning at Hurricanes projected goalies<\/p>\n Jonas Johansson (10-7-1, 2.92 GAA, .890 SV%) vs. Brandon Bussi (23-3-1, 2.16 GAA, .905 SV%, 2 SO)<\/p>\n Johansson is expected to make the start after Vasilevskiy picked up the win Thursday against the Maple Leafs. It’s highly unusual for a goaltender to start on consecutive nights. The last time Johansson started, he allowed 6 goals on 29 shots in an 8-5 loss in Columbus Jan. 24.<\/p>\n The last time we saw Bussi, he was barely breaking a sweat with 16 saves in a 2-0 victory on the road against the New York Rangers Feb. 5 for his second shutout of the season. He is 3-0-0 with a 1.65 GAA and .911 SV% with the shutout in 3 starts in February. Bussi has also won 7 consecutive starts.<\/p>\n Lightning at Hurricanes picks and predictionsPrediction<\/p>\n Hurricanes 3, Lightning 2<\/p>\n The HURRICANES (-150) are back on home ice after the long layoff due to the Olympics break.<\/p>\n The Lightning have lost once in regulation across the past 22 games since Dec. 20. The hot streak started in the first meeting Dec. 20 in Tampa against these Hurricanes.<\/p>\n It isn’t going to be easy, but Carolina is worth playing at home with its red-hot goaltender.<\/p>\n If you can’t bring yourself to take the visitor, Lightning +1.5 (-190) is just a little too expensive. Tampa Bay will set you back nearly 2 times your potential return, and that’s just too much risk.<\/p>\n On the flip side, prior to the Olympics break, Carolina had been involved in 4 one-goal games in the past 5 outings, while playing one-goal games in 8 of the previous 13 contests, so the favorite cannot be trusted on the puck line, either.<\/p>\n AVOID.<\/p>\n UNDER 6 (-102) is the lean, but roll with a half-unit play at best.<\/p>\n For the Hurricanes, prior to the Olympics, the Over was 8-3 in the previous 11 home games, although the Under cashed in 2 of the final 3 games before the hiatus. We saw 14 combined goals, or 4.7 goals per game, in that 3-game span.<\/p>\n The total pushed against the Leafs Wednesday, and the Over is 3-0-1 in the past 4 games. In starts by Johansson, the Over is 4-0-1 in the past 5 contests, so that’s why you should proceed with caution. However, the Under is 6-2 in the past 8 meetings in this series, too.<\/p>\n For more sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.com<\/a> and BetFTW<\/a>.<\/p>\n Follow @danieledobish<\/a> on\u00a0Twitter\/X.\u00a0Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter\/X<\/a> and like us on Facebook<\/a>.<\/p>\n