Tampa Bay Lightning vs Florida Panthers, Dec. 26, 2026
Tampa Bay Lightning7-3-1, 15 pts- 5:00 PMCT
- 4:00 PMMT
- 3:00 PMPT
Florida Panthers6-4-2, 14 ptsThe Tampa Bay Lightning visit the Florida Panthers on Saturday, Dec. 26, 2026. Puck drop is 6:00 PM ET on Scripps Sports. The Lightning arrive at 7-3-1 and the Panthers at 6-4-2. It is the first meeting of the two clubs in 2026-27.
| Date | Start time | Matchup | TV | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sat, Dec 26 | Scripps Sports | Scheduled |
Lightning vs Panthers Game Details
The fixed facts for this game in one place. The Panthers play at Amerant Bank Arena in Florida.
| Matchup | Tampa Bay Lightning at Florida Panthers |
|---|---|
| Date | Saturday, Dec. 26, 2026 |
| Puck drop | 6:00 PM ET |
| Status | Scheduled |
| TV | Scripps Sports |
| Venue | Amerant Bank Arena, Florida |
| Home team | Florida Panthers (Florida, United States) |
| Away team | Tampa Bay Lightning |
| Game type | Regular season |
| Season | 2026-27 |
What Time Does Lightning vs Panthers Start?
The Lightning vs Panthers start time is 6:00 PM ET on Saturday, Dec. 26, 2026. That is 5:00 PM Central, 4:00 PM Mountain and 3:00 PM Pacific.
| Time zone | Start | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Eastern (ET) | 6:00 PM | Florida, Tampa Bay |
| Central (CT) | 5:00 PM | |
| Mountain (MT) | 4:00 PM | |
| Pacific (PT) | 3:00 PM | |
| Atlantic (AT) | 7:00 PM | |
| Newfoundland (NT) | 7:30 PM | |
| Your time |
How to Watch Lightning vs Panthers
Tampa Bay Lightning at Florida Panthers is on Scripps Sports, with puck drop at 6:00 PM ET.
National NHL games in the United States air on ESPN, ABC, TNT, truTV and ESPN+. Games outside those windows go to the regional networks for the Florida and Tampa Bay markets.
Lightning vs Panthers in 2026-27: Head to Head
The Lightning and the Panthers meet 4 times in 2026-27. None of the games has been played yet; this is the season series in full.
| Date | Start time | Matchup | TV | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sat, Nov 28 | Tampa Bay LightningTBLFlorida PanthersFLA | Scripps Sports | Scheduled | |
| Sat, Dec 26 | Scripps Sports | Scheduled | ||
| Tue, Feb 16 | Florida PanthersFLATampa Bay LightningTBL | ESPN+, Disney+, Hulu | Scheduled | |
| Tue, Mar 23 | Florida PanthersFLATampa Bay LightningTBL | TNT, truTV | Scheduled |
Form and Standings: Lightning and Panthers
The Lightning are 7-3-1, 4th in the Atlantic Division with 15 points and a last-10 record of 7-2-1. The Panthers are 6-4-2, 6th in the Atlantic with 14 points and 5-4-1 in their last 10.
| Team | GP | Record | PTS | Home | Away | GF | GA | Streak | Last 10 | Last 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | 7-3-1 | 15 | 5-0-0 | 2-3-1 | 38 | 34 | OT1 | 7-2-1 | OTLWWW | |
| 12 | 6-4-2 | 14 | 2-1-0 | 4-3-2 | 34 | 36 | W1 | 5-4-1 | WLLWW |
Next Game for the Lightning and the Panthers
Tampa Bay Lightning
The Lightning next play at Carolina Hurricanes on Monday, Dec. 28, 2026 at 7:00 PM ET on CARNHL, The Spot - MTN.
| Date | Start time | Matchup | TV | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mon, Dec 28 | Tampa Bay LightningTBL Carolina HurricanesCAR | CARNHL, The Spot - MTN | Scheduled |
Florida Panthers
The Panthers next play vs Nashville Predators on Monday, Dec. 28, 2026 at 7:00 PM ET on Scripps Sports.
| Date | Start time | Matchup | TV | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mon, Dec 28 |  Nashville PredatorsNSHFlorida PanthersFLA | Scripps Sports | Scheduled |
FAQ About Lightning vs Panthers
What time is Lightning vs Panthers on Dec. 26?
6:00 PM ET (5:00 PM CT, 4:00 PM MT, 3:00 PM PT). Atlantic, Newfoundland and your own local time are in the start-time table above.
What channel is Lightning vs Panthers on?
The game is on Scripps Sports. National games also stream on ESPN+ in the United States; in Canada the Sportsnet windows apply.
Where is Lightning vs Panthers being played?
At Amerant Bank Arena in Florida, home of the Florida Panthers. The Tampa Bay Lightning are the visiting team.
Who has the better record, the Lightning or the Panthers?
The Lightning. They are 7-3-1 with 15 points, against 6-4-2 and 14 points for the Panthers.
How many times do the Lightning and Panthers play in 2026-27?
4 times. None has been played yet.
Does Lightning vs Panthers count in the standings?
Yes. It is a regular-season game: two points for a win, one for a loss in overtime or a shootout.
What time does Lightning vs Panthers end?
A regular-season NHL game runs about 2 hours 30 minutes, so this one should end around 8:30 PM ET. Overtime adds up to five minutes, and a shootout a few more.
Is Lightning vs Panthers on national TV?
No. Scripps Sports is a regional broadcast, shown in the Florida and Tampa Bay markets. Outside those markets it needs an out-of-market package.
Updated All times Eastern Time (ET)