Hockey fans are in for a treat as the NHL returns from the 2026 Winter Olympics break with a massive Atlantic Division clash. The Toronto Maple Leafs are heading south to face the formidable Tampa Bay Lightning on Wednesday, February 25, 2026. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:30 PM ET at the Benchmark International Arena in Tampa, Florida. If you’re wondering how to catch all the hard-hitting action, we have you covered with all the broadcast details.
TV, Streaming Options, and Regional Blackouts Explained
For fans tuning in from the USA, this highly anticipated matchup will be broadcast nationally on TNT. You can also stream the game live on Max (formerly HBO Max). Cord-cutters can access the TNT feed through live TV streaming platforms like Sling TV, DIRECTV STREAM, YouTube TV, and Hulu + Live TV.
In Canada, fans can watch the Maple Leafs battle the Lightning on Sportsnet (SN) for English coverage and TVA Sports (TVAS) for French commentary.
Understanding regional blackouts is crucial for hockey fans. Regional blackouts occur when a local regional sports network (RSN) holds the exclusive rights to broadcast a game in a specific home market. When this happens, out-of-market streaming platforms like ESPN+ will black out the game for viewers living in those local territories to protect the local broadcaster. However, because this specific Wednesday night game is an exclusive national TNT broadcast in the United States, standard local RSN blackouts will not apply, meaning you can stream it nationwide without restrictions.
Current NHL Standings, Team Records, and Leading Scorers
The 2025-26 NHL season has been a tale of two different trajectories for these Atlantic Division rivals. The Tampa Bay Lightning are sitting comfortably at the top of the division with an incredible 37-14-4 record (78 points). They went into the Olympic break scorching hot, dismantling the Florida Panthers 6-1 in their last game. The Toronto Maple Leafs, meanwhile, are fighting for playoff positioning with a 27-21-9 record (63 points). They wrapped up their pre-break schedule with a tight shootout victory over the Vancouver Canucks.
Offensively, the Lightning are being carried by a historic season from Nikita Kucherov, who leads the team—and 3rd in the league—with an astonishing 91 points (29 goals, 62 assists). Jake Guentzel is right behind him with 60 points. On the Toronto side, William Nylander leads the way with 52 points (18 goals, 34 assists), while captain Auston Matthews boasts 48 points, including a team-high 26 goals.
Injuries will play a factor in this contest. The Lightning will be without defenseman Max Crozier (core muscle surgery) and are monitoring star center Brayden Point (lower body). The Maple Leafs are still dealing with the absence of veteran defenseman Chris Tanev, who remains sidelined with a lingering groin injury, though they recently welcomed bruising forward Dakota Joshua back to practice.
Leafs vs Lightning Game Score Prediction
Looking at the current betting market, the Tampa Bay Lightning are heavy home favorites with the moneyline set at -198, while the Over/Under for total goals is set at 6.5. Personally, I think there is tremendous value in backing the Lightning in this spot. Whenever I see Tampa Bay playing on home ice with a rested Nikita Kucherov, I find it hard to bet against them. The Maple Leafs have struggled with defensive consistency this season, and at -198, the oddsmakers clearly respect the firepower of Jon Cooper’s squad. I anticipate a fast-paced game that flirts with the over, but ultimately, the Lightning’s depth and superior goaltending will prevail.
My official game score prediction is a 4-2 victory for the Tampa Bay Lightning.
As the playoff race heats up, you won’t want to miss a second of the action. Whether you are finding the Tampa Bay Lightning on TV today, mapping out the rest of the Toronto Maple Leafs TV schedule, or simply tracking the NHL point leaders 2025-26 season, our platform is your ultimate hockey hub. Be sure to explore all our resources and sign up for our online hockey pool for cash prizes on my website to get in on the competitive fun!
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