Game 3 Preview: Hurricanes at Lightning

TAMPA - After dropping the first two games of their Second Round series at home, the Carolina Hurricanes come to Tampa in desperate search of a win against the Lightning.

Game 3

(1) Carolina Hurricanes at (3) Tampa Bay Lightning
Tampa Bay leads series 2-0
Thursday, June 3, 8 p.m.
Watch: USA
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About Game 2

Though Andrei Svechnikov and the Canes finally solved Andrei Vasilevskiy with 90 seconds left to play in Game 2, the Lightning held on for their second straight 2-1 win on the road to claim a 2-0 Second Round series advantage. Despite the Canes limiting the Bolts to just 15 shots on goal, Anthony Cirelli's backhander at the 8:06 mark of the third period was the difference in another tight match.

"We played pretty hard. You're playing the best team in the world and going toe-to-toe. That's what it feels like, that's for sure. Certainly not getting overwhelmed," head coach Rod Brind'Amour said. "Just didn't get a break in two games. We're fighting trying to find that one, but we haven't been able to get it. I'm proud of the group. They're working so hard. We're doing everything we're trying to do. We just haven't got that little breakthrough yet."

Tracking the Storylines

Facing a Deficit: This marks the ninth time in franchise history that the Canes are facing a 2-0 deficit in a best-of-seven playoff series. The team is 2-6 all-time, winning first round series against Montreal in 2006 and Washington in 2019. The Canes lost the first two games of a playoff series at home just one another time in franchise history: that Eastern Conference Quarterfinals series against Montreal, after which the Canes rallied to win four straight games en route to capturing the Stanley Cup.
Trocheck Uncertain: Vincent Trocheck was evaluated on Wednesday after leaving Game 2 late in the second period. Though he returned for a shift in the third period, Trocheck again departed the game, and Rod Brind'Amour did not have an update on his status for Game 3. Trocheck traveled with the Canes to Florida.

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