RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — The Carolina Hurricanes and Tampa Bay Lightning open their second-round playoff series Sunday. The Hurricanes have home-ice advantage for the best-of-seven series as Central Division champions. The Lightning are the reigning Stanley Cup champions and got a boost with the return of star Nikita Kucherov after he missed the regular season following hip surgery. Kucherov had three goals and eight assists in a six-game series win against Florida in the first round. Carolina won its own six-game series against Nashville in the first round. Carolina will also have an increased capacity of more than 16,000 fans for home games.
