Pittsburgh Penguins vs Tampa Bay Lightning, Dec. 12, 2026
Pittsburgh Penguins5-6-1, 11 pts- 2:30 PMCT
- 1:30 PMMT
- 12:30 PMPT
Tampa Bay Lightning7-3-1, 15 ptsThe Pittsburgh Penguins visit the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday, Dec. 12, 2026. Puck drop is 3:30 PM ET on The Spot - MTN. The Penguins arrive at 5-6-1 and the Lightning at 7-3-1. It is the first meeting of the two clubs in 2026-27.
| Date | Start time | Matchup | TV | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sat, Dec 12 | The Spot - MTN | Scheduled |
Penguins vs Lightning Game Details
The fixed facts for this game in one place. The Lightning play at Benchmark International Arena in Tampa Bay.
| Matchup | Pittsburgh Penguins at Tampa Bay Lightning |
|---|---|
| Date | Saturday, Dec. 12, 2026 |
| Puck drop | 3:30 PM ET |
| Status | Scheduled |
| TV | The Spot - MTN |
| Venue | Benchmark International Arena, Tampa Bay |
| Home team | Tampa Bay Lightning (Tampa Bay, United States) |
| Away team | Pittsburgh Penguins |
| Game type | Regular season |
| Season | 2026-27 |
What Time Does Penguins vs Lightning Start?
The Penguins vs Lightning start time is 3:30 PM ET on Saturday, Dec. 12, 2026. That is 2:30 PM Central, 1:30 PM Mountain and 12:30 PM Pacific.
| Time zone | Start | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Eastern (ET) | 3:30 PM | Tampa Bay, Pittsburgh |
| Central (CT) | 2:30 PM | |
| Mountain (MT) | 1:30 PM | |
| Pacific (PT) | 12:30 PM | |
| Atlantic (AT) | 4:30 PM | |
| Newfoundland (NT) | 5:00 PM | |
| Your time |
How to Watch Penguins vs Lightning
Pittsburgh Penguins at Tampa Bay Lightning is on The Spot - MTN, with puck drop at 3:30 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 Tampa Bay and Pittsburgh markets.
Penguins vs Lightning in 2026-27: Head to Head
The Penguins and the Lightning meet 3 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, Dec 12 | The Spot - MTN | Scheduled | ||
| Tue, Dec 15 | Tampa Bay LightningTBLPittsburgh PenguinsPIT | The Spot - MTN | Scheduled | |
| Tue, Feb 2 | Tampa Bay LightningTBLPittsburgh PenguinsPIT | The Spot - MTN | Scheduled |
Form and Standings: Penguins and Lightning
The Penguins are 5-6-1, 6th in the Metropolitan Division with 11 points and a last-10 record of 3-6-1. The Lightning are 7-3-1, 4th in the Atlantic with 15 points and 7-2-1 in their last 10.
| Team | GP | Record | PTS | Home | Away | GF | GA | Streak | Last 10 | Last 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 | 5-6-1 | 11 | 4-1-0 | 1-5-1 | 40 | 40 | W2 | 3-6-1 | WWLLL | |
| 11 | 7-3-1 | 15 | 5-0-0 | 2-3-1 | 38 | 34 | OT1 | 7-2-1 | OTLWWW |
Next Game for the Penguins and the Lightning
Pittsburgh Penguins
The Penguins next play vs Tampa Bay Lightning on Tuesday, Dec. 15, 2026 at 7:00 PM ET on The Spot - MTN.
| Date | Start time | Matchup | TV | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tue, Dec 15 | Tampa Bay LightningTBLPittsburgh PenguinsPIT | The Spot - MTN | Scheduled |
Tampa Bay Lightning
The Lightning next play at St. Louis Blues on Sunday, Dec. 13, 2026 at 8:00 PM ET on Blues App, The Spot - MTN.
| Date | Start time | Matchup | TV | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun, Dec 13 | Tampa Bay LightningTBL St. Louis BluesSTL | Blues App, The Spot - MTN | Scheduled |
FAQ About Penguins vs Lightning
What time is Penguins vs Lightning on Dec. 12?
3:30 PM ET (2:30 PM CT, 1:30 PM MT, 12:30 PM PT). Atlantic, Newfoundland and your own local time are in the start-time table above.
What channel is Penguins vs Lightning on?
The game is on The Spot - MTN. National games also stream on ESPN+ in the United States; in Canada the Sportsnet windows apply.
Where is Penguins vs Lightning being played?
At Benchmark International Arena in Tampa Bay, home of the Tampa Bay Lightning. The Pittsburgh Penguins are the visiting team.
Who has the better record, the Penguins or the Lightning?
The Lightning. They are 7-3-1 with 15 points, against 5-6-1 and 11 points for the Penguins.
How many times do the Penguins and Lightning play in 2026-27?
3 times. None has been played yet.
Does Penguins vs Lightning 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 Penguins vs Lightning end?
A regular-season NHL game runs about 2 hours 30 minutes, so this one should end around 6:00 PM ET. Overtime adds up to five minutes, and a shootout a few more.
Is Penguins vs Lightning on national TV?
No. The Spot - MTN is a regional broadcast, shown in the Tampa Bay and Pittsburgh markets. Outside those markets it needs an out-of-market package.
Updated All times Eastern Time (ET)