The Tampa Bay Lightning (18-13-3) and the Carolina Hurricanes (22-9-3) meet in Tampa, Florida on December 20, 2025 at Benchmark International Arena, starting at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN+. The Lightning rank 10th and the Hurricanes first in the Eastern Conference.
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Lightning vs. Hurricanes: Dec. 20 Viewing Options
- Date: Saturday, December 20, 2025
- Time: 7 p.m. ET
- How to watch on TV: ESPN+
- Location: Tampa, Florida
- Venue: Benchmark International Arena
- Live Stream: Watch this game on ESPN+
- Live Stream: Watch this game on Fubo (Regional restrictions may apply)
Lightning's 2025-26 Stats
| Stat | Per-Game Average | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Goals Scored | 3.15 | 11th |
| Goals Allowed | 2.62 | 6th |
| Shots | 27.9 | 18th |
| Shots Allowed | 26.7 | 8th |
| Power Play % | 16.51% | 24th |
| Penalty Kill % | 85.19% | 2nd |
Hurricanes' 2025-26 Stats
| Stat | Per-Game Average | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Goals Scored | 3.26 | 5th |
| Goals Allowed | 2.74 | 8th |
| Shots | 32.9 | 2nd |
| Shots Allowed | 24.6 | 1st |
| Power Play % | 16.04% | 25th |
| Penalty Kill % | 81.05% | 16th |
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Lightning vs. Hurricanes Top Players
Lightning
- Nikita Kucherov is one of Tampa Bay's top contributors this season with 42 points. He has averaged 0.4 goals per game, shooting 13.5%.
- Jake Guentzel has 34 points (15 goals, 19 assists) to add to the team's offensive efforts.
- On 95 shots (for 18 goals) and 13 assists, Brandon Hagel has created 31 points this season.
- As Tampa Bay's top goalie, Andrei Vasilevskiy has recorded 11 wins and 7 losses this season while allowing 45 goals with 482 saves.
Hurricanes
- Sebastian Aho has scored 13 goals (0.4 per game) and put up 18 assists (0.5 per game), contributing to the Carolina offense with 31 total points (0.9 per game). He averages 2.4 shots per game, shooting 15.7%.
- Seth Jarvis has scored 29 total points (0.9 per game) this season. He has 19 goals and 10 assists.
- Shayne Gostisbehere has scored three goals on the season, adding 22 assists.
- Frederik Andersen is 5-7-2 in 14 games this season, conceding 44 goals (3.2 goals against average) with 306 saves and an .874 save percentage (61st in the league).
Lightning vs. Hurricanes Injury Report
Lightning
Erik Cernak: Out (Undisclosed),
Brandon Hagel: Day-To-Day (Upper Body),
Nikita Kucherov: Day-To-Day (Illness),
Victor Hedman: Out (Elbow),
Emil Martinsen Lilleberg: Out (Undisclosed)
Hurricanes
Charles-Alexis Legault: Out (Hand),
Jordan Martinook: Day-To-Day (Lower Body),
Seth Jarvis: Out (Upper Body)
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Lightning's Schedule
| Date | Opponent | Score | Home/Away |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12/13/2025 | Islanders | L 3-2 | Away |
| 12/15/2025 | Panthers | L 5-2 | Home |
| 12/18/2025 | Kings | L 2-1 | Home |
| 12/20/2025 | Hurricanes | - | Home |
| 12/22/2025 | Blues | - | Home |
| 12/27/2025 | Panthers | - | Away |
| 12/28/2025 | Canadiens | - | Home |
Hurricanes' Schedule
| Date | Opponent | Score | Home/Away |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12/14/2025 | Flyers | W 3-2 | Home |
| 12/17/2025 | Predators | W 4-1 | Away |
| 12/19/2025 | Panthers | L 4-3 | Away |
| 12/20/2025 | Lightning | - | Away |
| 12/23/2025 | Panthers | - | Home |
| 12/27/2025 | Red Wings | - | Home |
| 12/29/2025 | Rangers | - | Home |