You’re sitting there, wings ordered, jersey on, and you’re frantically refreshing your feed because you don’t want to miss the opening faceoff. We've all been there. If you are looking for what time is the tampa bay lightning game today, Friday, January 16, 2026, the puck drops at 8:00 PM ET.
The Bolts are currently in St. Louis taking on the Blues at the Enterprise Center. This isn't just another mid-January road game, though. Tampa Bay is rolling into Missouri on a heater, looking for a franchise-record 12th consecutive win. Honestly, the way Nikita Kucherov has been playing—sitting at 67 points already this season—it feels like they might just pull it off.
Where to Watch the Bolts Tonight
Don't go looking for this one on your standard local cable package unless you have "The Spot" (Tampa Bay 66). Since it's an away game in the Midwest, the broadcast situation is a little specific.
- National/Streaming: ESPN+ (This is your best bet if you're out of market).
- Local TV: The Spot (Tampa Bay 66) for those in the 813 or 727.
- Radio: 102.5 MHz-FM or Lightning Radio 24/7.
If you are stuck in traffic or working late, the radio broadcast with Dave Mishkin is basically a rite of passage. The man’s energy when Kucherov scores a power-play goal is enough to power the entire Gandy Bridge.
The Matchup: Tampa Bay vs. St. Louis
The Lightning (29-13-3) are currently sitting pretty at the top of the Eastern Conference with 61 points. Meanwhile, the Blues (18-21-8) are struggling a bit, ranked 13th in the West. But don't let those standings fool you. St. Louis is always a tough environment, and the Bolts are historically 5-17-3 on the road against them. It’s weird, right? For some reason, the Gateway City has been a bit of a kryptonite for Tampa Bay over the years.
There are some big injury notes you need to know before the tampa bay lightning game time hits. Brayden Point is officially out with a lower-body injury. Jon Cooper has him listed as week-to-week, which is a massive blow to the top six. Also, Ryan McDonagh didn't travel with the team for this five-game road trip.
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Predicted Lines for Tonight
Based on Tuesday's win against the Penguins, here is what the lineup looks like:
Forwards:
Jake Guentzel – Nick Paul – Nikita Kucherov
Brandon Hagel – Anthony Cirelli – Gage Goncalves
Zemgus Girgensons – Yanni Gourde – Pontus Holmberg
Oliver Bjorkstrand – Jack Finley – Dominic James
Defense:
JJ Moser – Darren Raddysh
C.E. D’Astous – Erik Cernak
Declan Carlile – Max Crozier
Andrei Vasilevskiy is the expected starter in net. He’s 19-7-2 this season with a .915 save percentage. He’s also been dominant against the Blues in his career, posting a 9-4-1 record. If Vasy is on his game, that 12th straight win is looking very likely.
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Why This Specific Game Matters
Most people just check the score and move on, but if you're a real fan, you know the nuances. The Bolts already beat the Blues 4-1 back in late December. Darren Raddysh had a career night in that one with three points. The Blues are desperate to snap out of their funk, and Robert Thomas (their leading scorer with 33 points) is going to be a handful for the Moser-Raddysh pairing.
St. Louis is actually 32nd in the league in goals scored. They are averaging just 2.49 goals per game. Compare that to Tampa Bay’s 3.51 (2nd in the NHL), and you’d think this is a blowout. But hockey is a game of bounces. The Blues just beat the Hurricanes 3-0 earlier this week, proving they can shut down high-octane offenses when Jordan Binnington (or Joel Hofer) stands on his head.
What’s Next on the Schedule?
Once the siren sounds tonight in St. Louis, the Lightning aren't heading home. They’ve got a grueling stretch coming up.
- Sunday, Jan 18: At Dallas Stars (1:00 PM ET) – This is a matinee, so set your alarms.
- Tuesday, Jan 20: Vs. San Jose Sharks (7:00 PM ET) – Finally back at Benchmark International Arena.
- Friday, Jan 23: At Chicago Blackhawks (7:00 PM ET).
Basically, the team is living out of suitcases for the next week. This road trip is where playoff seeds are often cemented. If they can sweep this trip, the rest of the Atlantic Division should be very, very worried.
Actionable Tips for Fans Tonight
- Sync the Audio: If you hate the national announcers on ESPN+, try to sync the 102.5 FM radio feed with your TV. It takes a second to pause and play, but hearing Mishkin's "BOLTS WIN!" is worth the effort.
- Check the Power Play: St. Louis has a 77% penalty kill (26th in the league). Kucherov and Guentzel should have a field day if the Blues start taking lazy hooks or trips.
- Betting Lines: The Bolts are heavy favorites at -185. The over/under is set at 5.5. Given the Blues' offensive struggles, the "under" might be a sneaky play despite Tampa's firepower.
The game is only a few hours away. Get your snacks ready, double-check your ESPN+ login, and let's see if the Bolts can make history with win number twelve.