Tampa Bay Lightning TV Schedule 2026-27

The Tampa Bay Lightning TV schedule for the 2026-27 NHL season lists every game date, opponent, start time and confirmed television channel in one place. Use the schedule below to find out when the Lightning play next, what channel the game is on and where you can stream the action.

Next Lightning game: Tampa Bay opens the regular season at Madison Square Garden against the New York Rangers on Thursday, October 1 at 7:00 p.m. ET. The Lightning return to Benchmark International Arena for their home opener against the Washington Capitals on Saturday, October 3 at 7:00 p.m. ET.

What Channel Is the Tampa Bay Lightning Game on Tonight?

The channel carrying the Tampa Bay Lightning game tonight depends on whether the matchup is a locally produced broadcast, a national exclusive or an out-of-market game.

• The Spot – Tampa Bay 66: The local over-the-air television home for most Lightning games that are not selected for an exclusive national broadcast.
• Lightning app: Eligible local games can be streamed within the Lightning broadcast territory with a qualifying subscription.
• ESPN and ABC: Carry selected nationally televised Lightning games.
• ESPN+ and Hulu: Carry selected exclusive national games and many eligible out-of-market broadcasts.
• TNT, TBS and Max: Carry selected national regular-season and Stanley Cup Playoff games.
• NHL Network: May televise selected regional games outside the participating teams’ local markets.

Check the Watch On column beside each matchup for the confirmed channel. A listing marked TBD means the final television assignment has not yet been officially announced.

How to Watch Lightning Games on The Spot – Tampa Bay 66

The Spot – Tampa Bay 66, also known as WXPX-TV, is the local television home for Tampa Bay Lightning broadcasts produced through Scripps Sports.

The station carries locally produced preseason, regular-season and eligible first-round Stanley Cup Playoff games that are not assigned exclusively to a national broadcaster.

Fans within the station’s coverage area can watch The Spot free over the air with a compatible digital antenna. The channel may also be available through participating cable and satellite providers. Channel numbers vary by location and provider.

How to Stream Tampa Bay Lightning Games Without Cable

Fans living within the Lightning’s regional broadcast territory can stream eligible local games through the official Tampa Bay Lightning app. A paid subscription and location verification may be required.

Viewers outside the Lightning’s local market can watch many eligible out-of-market games through ESPN+. NHL Center Ice may also be available through participating cable and satellite providers.

Nationally exclusive games may require ESPN, ABC, ESPN+, Hulu, TNT, TBS, Max or NHL Network. Always confirm the individual game listing before subscribing to a television or streaming service.

Can I Watch Lightning Games Free Over the Air?

Yes. Most locally produced Tampa Bay Lightning games are available free over the air on The Spot – Tampa Bay 66 within the station’s broadcast area.

Viewers need a compatible digital antenna and must live within range of the station’s signal. Nationally exclusive games will air through the network holding the rights to that particular matchup instead of The Spot.

Tampa Bay Lightning Radio Broadcast

Tampa Bay Lightning games can be heard on 102.5 FM The Bone, the team’s primary local radio broadcast partner.

Additional audio coverage may be available on The Strike 102.5 HD-2 and through Lightning Radio 24/7 in the official Lightning app.

Radio coverage normally includes pregame programming, live play-by-play and postgame analysis. Occasional programming conflicts may affect the HD-2 broadcast, so listeners should check the official game listing before puck drop.

Tampa Bay Lightning 2026-27 Schedule Highlights

The Lightning will play an expanded 84-game regular-season schedule in 2026-27, with 42 games at Benchmark International Arena and 42 games on the road.

• Season opener: October 1 at the New York Rangers
• Home opener: October 3 against the Washington Capitals
• Edmonton visits Tampa: November 19
• Carolina visits Tampa: November 25
• Florida road game: November 28
• Montreal visits Tampa: December 31 and April 8
• First home game against Florida: February 16
• Second home game against Florida: March 23

Tampa Bay will play 13 sets of back-to-back games and host two six-game homestands. The first runs from November 14 through November 27, while the second runs from February 12 through February 23.

How to Watch Tampa Bay Lightning Games in Canada

Canadian broadcast availability depends on whether the Lightning game has been selected for national television or is available through an out-of-market package.

• Sportsnet: Carries selected Canadian national NHL broadcasts.
• Sportsnet+: Streams eligible Sportsnet games and out-of-market matchups, depending on the subscriber’s package.
• Prime Video: Carries selected Canadian Monday night national broadcasts.
• TVA Sports: Carries selected French-language NHL broadcasts.

Canadian viewers should check the Watch On column and their provider’s schedule because streaming access and regional restrictions can vary by game.

Tampa Bay Lightning Streaming and Blackout Rules

NHL blackout rules are based on the viewer’s physical location and whether a matchup is classified as a local, national or out-of-market broadcast.

A locally televised Lightning game may be unavailable through ESPN+ within the team’s broadcast territory. Local viewers should use The Spot – Tampa Bay 66 or the official Lightning app when the game is available regionally.

Nationally exclusive games may not air on The Spot or through the local Lightning stream. Check the schedule table before puck drop for the correct channel and platform.

What Time Is the Lightning Game Tonight?

All start times in the Tampa Bay Lightning TV schedule are displayed in Eastern Time. Start times can change because of national television selections, arena scheduling or NHL adjustments.

Return to this page on game day for the latest puck-drop time, television channel and streaming information.

Tampa Bay Lightning TV Schedule FAQ

When is the next Tampa Bay Lightning game?

The next Lightning game appears at the top of the schedule table with its date, opponent, start time and confirmed television channel.

What channel carries most Tampa Bay Lightning games?

Most locally produced Lightning games are shown on The Spot – Tampa Bay 66. Nationally exclusive games may instead appear on ESPN, ABC, ESPN+, Hulu, TNT, TBS or NHL Network.

What happened to FanDuel Sports Network Sun?

FanDuel Sports Network Sun is no longer the local television home of the Lightning. The team moved its locally produced broadcasts to Scripps Sports and The Spot – Tampa Bay 66 beginning with the 2025-26 season.

Can I stream Lightning games through the team app?

Eligible local games can be streamed through the official Tampa Bay Lightning app within the team’s broadcast territory. A subscription and location verification may be required.

Can I watch Lightning games on ESPN+?

ESPN+ carries many eligible out-of-market Lightning games and selected national exclusives. Locally televised games may be blacked out on ESPN+ within the Lightning broadcast territory.

Can I watch Lightning games with an antenna?

Most locally produced games can be watched free over the air on The Spot – Tampa Bay 66 with a compatible antenna within the station’s coverage area.

What radio station carries Lightning games?

102.5 FM The Bone is the primary local radio home of Tampa Bay Lightning games. Additional audio coverage is available through The Strike 102.5 HD-2 and Lightning Radio 24/7.

What does TBD mean on the Lightning schedule?

TBD means the final television channel has not yet been officially announced. The listing will be updated when the broadcaster confirms the assignment.

Does this schedule include preseason and playoff games?

The page is updated with Tampa Bay Lightning preseason and Stanley Cup Playoff games when dates, start times and broadcast information become available.

More Tampa Bay Lightning Coverage

Follow the latest Tampa Bay Lightning news and trade rumors, review the team’s Tampa Bay Lightning salary-cap situation, or explore our latest fantasy hockey predictions.

You can also view the complete NHL games on TV today schedule to find start times and television channels for every NHL team.

Schedule information is cross-checked against the official Tampa Bay Lightning schedule. Broadcast information is verified against the Lightning’s official viewing guide. Dates, start times and channel assignments can change without notice.

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