• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Hurricanes-Lightning Preview

Apr 5, 2010 - 11:32 PM By ALAN FERGUSON STATS Writer

Carolina (33-36-10) at Tampa Bay (31-35-12), 7:30 p.m. EDT

The Carolina Hurricanes got off to the worst start in the NHL this season. The Tampa Bay Lightning, meanwhile, have been the league's worst team for nearly two months.

It's no surprise then the Hurricanes and Lightning are beginning their final week of this season.

Carolina will attempt to open that final stretch by avoiding a third straight defeat Tuesday night against Tampa Bay, losers in 15 of 19.

After advancing to the Eastern Conference finals in 2009, the injury-plagued Hurricanes (33-36-10) began this season 5-17-5. They tried to make a run to the posteason by winning 18 of 29 since Jan. 23, but were eliminated from playoff contention with a 4-0 loss to New Jersey on Saturday night.

That has coach Paul Maurice looking ahead to next season. Among the players Maurice is looking to contribute in 2010-11 are Brandon Sutter and rookie defenseman Jamie McBain, who has three goals and four assists in 11 games.

"It's going to be a young team next year," Maurice said. "I think there's enough bodies to be successful and make it happen. (We have) some good young players."

Tampa Bay has an emerging star in second-year center Steven Stamkos, who is among the NHL leaders with 46 goals. His 88 points have also taken a little sting out of another disappointing season, which includes a 5-14-1 stretch since Feb. 10.

Stamkos, however, has three assists in 10 career games versus Carolina, one of four NHL teams he's failed to score a goal against. Breaking that slump could help Tampa Bay catch the Hurricanes in the Southeast Division standings.

The Lightning (31-35-12), who are tied with Florida and two points behind Carolina, are trying to avoid their third straight last-place finish in the division.

Stamkos, the 2008 No. 1 overall pick, tried to help with a goal and an assist in a 2-0 win at Pittsburgh on Wednesday night. However, Tampa Bay suffered a 5-0 defeat to the New York Rangers on Friday night.

The Rangers scored four first-period goals on seven shots against Mike Smith, who then watched Antero Niittymaki stop 14 of 15 shots the final two periods. The loss was Tampa Bay's seventh in nine home games.

The Hurricanes, meanwhile, are 7-1-3 on the road since Feb. 4, but they've come up empty in two trips to the St. Pete Times Forum this season after winning all three games there last season.

After sweeping the series in 2008-09, Carolina is 2-2-1 against the Lightning this season and fell 3-2 in overtime in Tampa Bay in the most recent matchup March 23. Martin St. Louis, who has a team-leading seven points versus the Hurricanes this season, tallied the winning goal 29 seconds into the extra session.

Chad LaRose has scored a goal in the past three matchups with the Lightning and will try to help his team avoid its first three-game skid since Jan. 14-18.