The Tampa Bay Lightning will be a regular presence on the national stage in 2026-27, with 14 games scheduled for national television across TNT, ESPN, ABC and ESPN+/Disney+/Hulu.
A big chunk of that spotlight falls on the Atlantic Division. Three of Tampa Bay’s four regular-season meetings with the Boston Bruins are on the national slate, and two games against the Florida Panthers made the cut as well. The Lightning’s rematch with the Montreal Canadiens, their first-round playoff opponent last season, is also included.
The national schedule begins to take shape in January and runs through April, with the Lightning featured in a handful of prime windows. On Jan.
18, Tampa Bay visits Boston on TNT at 1:30 p.m. That’s followed by a Feb. 3 road game at the Philadelphia Flyers on TNT at 7:30 p.m.
The Panthers series gets its first national spotlight on Feb. 16, when the Lightning host Florida on ESPN+/Disney+/Hulu at 7 p.m. Another showdown with the Panthers lands on March 23 in Tampa on TNT at 7 p.m.
Philadelphia returns to the schedule on March 25, when the Lightning host the Flyers on ESPN at 6:30 p.m.
Boston closes out the national TV run in April. Tampa Bay visits the Bruins on April 3 on ABC at 3 p.m., then hosts Boston on April 10 on ABC at 8 p.m.
All other Lightning games will air locally on The Spot Tampa Bay 66, and fans can also watch through the Tampa Bay Lightning app.
In Other News...
Victor Hedman Opens Up As Lightning Await Captains Return
Victor Hedman has spent the summer away from game action, and his path back to Tampa Bay has been about far more than simply getting ready for another NHL season. The veteran defenseman has not played for the Lightning since March 19 after stepping away to address mental and physical health challenges, and in an interview with NHL.com he spoke candidly about the recovery process, his motivation and his sense of readiness as he prepares for his 18th NHL season.
For the Lightning, Hedmans return is about rejoining a core piece of their identity as much as it is about adding another blue-line option. He sounded confident about the work he has put in and the expectations he carries into the fall, even as he acknowledges the long layoff has changed the rhythm of his offseason. The next step is simply getting back into the flow of things, and Tampa Bay will be watching closely as its captain returns to the spotlight. [Read more 🡒]
Lightning Prospect Gabriel Szturc Faces A Bigger Fight Than Last Year
Gabriel Szturc has quietly done enough in Syracuse to keep himself in the conversation inside the Lightning organization. The undrafted forward has landed on Tampa Bays final prospect list for the third time in his career, a sign that the club still sees a useful player in a skater who has shown steady growth with the Crunch. His game has held up well in the AHL, where he has matched his offensive production over two seasons while making noticeable strides in skating and on special teams.
Now the next step matters more than ever. Szturc is entering the final season of his entry-level contract and still has to keep pushing if he wants to hold onto ice time and stay on an NHL track. Tampa Bay has watched him build a reliable base in Syracuse, but the pressure shifts from development to proof, and this is the year he has to show he can turn that progress into something more lasting. [Read more 🡒]