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The Eastern Conference crown is on the line this Thursday at the Lenovo Center as the Tampa Bay Lightning visit the Carolina Hurricanes. This is a true “clash of the titans” featuring the Atlantic Division-leading Lightning (38-14-4) and a Hurricanes squad (36-15-6) that currently ranks second in the conference. Both teams entered the Olympic break on incredible heaters; Tampa Bay has won nine of its last 10 games, while Carolina is riding a perfect five-game winning streak. Oddsmakers have installed the Hurricanes as -152 home favorites, largely due to their elite defensive metrics and home-ice dominance. However, with Tampa Bay boasting the league’s 2nd-ranked offense and an unblemished 9-0 puck line record as an underdog, this 7:00 PM ET matchup

The Atlantic Division spotlight turns to Amerant Bank Arena this Thursday as the Florida Panthers host the Toronto Maple Leafs. Both teams return from the Olympic break looking to rectify recent stumbles; the Maple Leafs (27-22-9) are coming off a 4-2 loss to Tampa Bay, while the Panthers (29-25-3) are looking to snap a cold streak that saw them go winless in their last five outings before the hiatus. Despite Florida’s recent struggles, Paul Maurice’s squad remains the betting favorite on home ice at -157. Toronto, led by Craig Berube, sits just ahead of Florida in the conference standings, but both teams are in the thick of a playoff push where every divisional point is gold. With puck drop scheduled

The NHL regular season resumes with a Metropolitan Division clash at PPG Paints Arena as the Pittsburgh Penguins host the New Jersey Devils. Both teams return from the Olympic break facing very different trajectories. The Penguins (29-15-12) sit comfortably in 2nd place in the division and 6th in the Eastern Conference, having won eight of their last 10 games. Conversely, the New Jersey Devils (28-28-2) have spiraled recently, entering this 7:00 PM puck drop on ESPN+ with a discouraging five-game losing streak. Despite being shorthanded due to a lengthy injury and suspension list, Pittsburgh remains the clear favorite on home ice. Sheldon Keefe’s Devils are fighting to stay relevant in a crowded playoff race, but they must find a way

The NHL’s brightest stars return to the bright lights of Hollywood as the Edmonton Oilers visit the Los Angeles Kings at Crypto.com Arena. This 10:30 PM puck drop on ESPN marks a pivotal Pacific Division clash between two teams looking to shake off pre-Olympic rust and snap identical three-game losing skids. Edmonton enters the contest as the 2nd seed in the division (28-22-8), fueled by the league’s most dangerous offensive duo. The Kings (23-19-14) sit just outside the playoff picture in 9th place in the West and will rely on their elite defensive structure to counter Edmonton’s high-octane attack. While the Oilers possess the firepower, the Kings have proven to be one of the stingiest teams in the league, ranking