The Sunshine State rivalry reignites tonight as the Florida Panthers visit the Tampa Bay Lightning for a critical Atlantic Division showdown. With the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympic break looming, both teams are desperate to secure points in their final game before the pause. The Lightning are surging at the top of the division, while the Panthers are fighting to snap a cold streak.
Here is everything you need to know to watch the game on TV and streaming services in the USA and Canada.
Panthers vs. Lightning TV Channel and Streaming Options
Date: Thursday, February 5, 2026
Game Time: 7:30 PM ET
Venue: Benchmark International Arena, Tampa, FL
How to Watch in the USA: Tonight’s game is a national digital exclusive. You can watch the game live on ESPN+ and Hulu. It will not be available on traditional cable channels like ESPN or TNT, nor will it be on local regional sports networks.
How to Watch in Canada: Canadian hockey fans can catch the action on Sportsnet (SN) for English-language coverage and TVA Sports (TVAS) for French-language commentary.
Regional Blackouts Explained for NHL Games
NHL broadcast rules can be confusing, but tonight’s matchup simplifies things for many viewers. Typically, “blackouts” occur when a game is available on a local Regional Sports Network (RSN); in those cases, the national stream (like ESPN+) is blocked in the local market to protect the cable provider’s rights.
However, because tonight’s game is an ESPN+/Hulu national exclusive, the standard regional blackouts generally do not apply. This means fans in the Tampa and Miami markets should be able to stream the game directly on ESPN+ or Hulu without needing a cable subscription to a local network. Always check your local listings to confirm, but this national designation usually opens the viewing window to a wider audience.
Team Records and Recent Form (2025-26 Season)
Tampa Bay Lightning (36-14-4) The Lightning are rolling, sitting 1st in the Atlantic Division with 76 points. They enter tonight’s contest on a four-game winning streak, capped off by a thrilling 6-5 victory over the Boston Bruins in their last outing.
Florida Panthers (29-24-3) It has been a tougher stretch for Florida, who currently sit 7th in the division. They snapped a four-game losing streak last night with a 5-4 OT win over the Bruins. The Panthers are looking to right the ship before the Olympic hiatus.
Leading Scorers and Key Injuries
Tampa Bay Lightning Leaders:
- Nikita Kucherov: 90 points (29 Goals, 61 Assists)
- Jake Guentzel: 59 points (25 Goals, 34 Assists)
- Brandon Hagel: 53 points (26 Goals, 27 Assists)
Florida Panthers Leaders:
- Sam Reinhart: 54 points (27 Goals, 27 Assists)
- Brad Marchand: 50 points (25 Goals, 25 Assists)
- Sam Bennett: 42 points (19 Goals, 23 Assists)
Key Injuries:
- Lightning: Captain Brayden Point (Lower Body), Anthony Cirelli (Upper Body), and Nick Paul are out.
- Panthers: The Cats are missing significant star power with Aleksander Barkov (Knee) and defenseman Seth Jones (Upper Body) sidelined.
Game Score Prediction and Betting Insight
The betting markets have Tampa Bay as a heavy favorite at -198, with the Over/Under set at 6.5 goals.
Personally, I see the Lightning continuing their dominance at home tonight. Florida is battered by injuries—missing both Barkov and Jones is a massive blow to their structure. Meanwhile, Tampa’s offense is clicking at an elite level, scoring 3.5 goals per game. Even with Brayden Point out, the depth provided by Guentzel and the MVP-level play of Kucherov is too much for a struggling Panthers defense to handle. I expect a high-scoring affair that clears the 6.5 total, but the Bolts will pull away in the third period.
My Prediction: Tampa Bay Lightning win 5-2.
More NHL Coverage
If you are looking for finding the Tampa Bay Lightning on TV today or the full Florida Panthers TV schedule for the remainder of the season, check out our team pages. We also track the NHL point leaders for the 2025-26 season daily. Don’t forget to join our playoff hockey pool; we are giving away cash prizes for the best predictions during the Olympic break!
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