Two of the last three Stanley Cup winners will be going head-to-head on Thursday night, when the Carolina Hurricanes travel to Tampa to take on the Lightning. Televised in brilliant 1080i on HDNet, this will be a high-octane match-up between the Southeast Division's first- and second-place teams that you definitely won't want to miss!

Hurricanes to Watch

He doesn't get much attention outside the Research Triangle, but Hurricanes forward Cory Stillman is quietly on pace to put together the finest season of his solid NHL career. He leads the 'Canes with 15 goals and 33 points, and has emerged as one of the team's most reliable clutch performers. On Monday night, the former member of the Lightning scored two goals to lead the Hurricanes to an impressive 4-0 victory over the Rangers.

Another unsung hero in Carolina is Justin Williams, a former first round pick of the Philadelphia Flyers. Williams broke through in the season following the lockout, tallying career highs in goals (31), assists (45), and points (76), and was a key contributor in their run to the Cup in 2006. Last season, he posted a career high 33 goals. The strong skater has a hard right-handed shot, making him an important component of the 'Canes' potent power play.

The second overall pick in the 2003 Entry Draft, Eric Staal is one of the NHL's most promising forwards, and at just 23 years old, he's only just beginning to realize his tremendous potential. During the 'Canes' Cup-winning season, he tallied a stellar 100 points, and though his production slipped a bit last season (70 points), Staal was again one of the team's most reliable contributors.

Goaltender Cam Ward may well be the biggest key to the 'Canes' success this season. He struggled mightily last season, perhaps overwhelmed a bit by the Cup victory and the expectations that followed his Conn Smythe Trophy-winning performance. But this year, he came to training camp 25 pounds lighter, and has been absolutely stellar between the pipes for the 'Canes, posting an impressive .913 save percentage to go along with a 2.55 goals-against average.

Lightning to Watch

The star of the show in Tampa is, without question, top-line center Vincent Lecavalier. His 42 points leads the NHL, and his impressive plus-11 rating has him amongst the NHL's leaders in that important category as well. Former Lightning owner Art Williams was a bit over-exuberant when he referred to Lecavalier as "hockey's Michael Jordan" on the day he was drafted, but it's fair to say nonetheless that the supremely talented forward has emerged as one of the NHL's top players.

Former Hart Trophy winner Martin St. Louis is an excellent complement to Lecavalier. One of the league's fastest skaters, St. Louis is extremely adept at accelerating into open ice to generate high-quality scoring chances. He posted career-highs in goals and points last season (43 and 102) and though his goal-scoring has slipped a bit this year, he is once again on pace to top the 100-point mark.

When power play quarterback Dan Boyle went down with a wrist injury that required surgery, it seemed that the Lightning were in very serious trouble. But Paul Ranger, a 2002 sixth round pick, has stepped up mightily, tallying 18 points in 26 games (to go along with a plus-10 rating). Boyle is out indefinitely, so Ranger's offensive contributions will need to continue if the Lightning are to hold ground in the highly competitive Southeast Division.

Failing to pull off a trade for Ilya Bryzgalov (who was instead waived by the Ducks and claimed by the Coyotes) will probably cost the Lightning dearly, for they must instead depend upon Johan Holmqvist. Unfortunately, Holmqvist's .894 save percentage isn't exactly going to strike fear into opposing shooters, while back-up Marc Denis (4.27 GAA, .861 SV%) represents a thoroughly unacceptable alternative. Bryzgalov has effectively turned the Coyotes' season around; he could have turned the Lightning into a bona fide Cup contender.

About the NHL on HDNet

HDNet's NHL game broadcasts are shot exclusively for presentation in the highest-quality 1080i high-definition format, giving viewers all the benefits of a 16:9 aspect ratio and high-resolution picture. A complete schedule of programming, including encore presentations and additional games, as scheduled, is available at HD.net or at NHL.com. The schedule is subject to change, and local blackout restrictions apply.