If you’re wondering who Tampa Bay play today, you’ve gotta look toward the ice, not the gridiron. While the Buccaneers are currently navigating the fallout of their 2025-26 season—finishing 8-9 and just missing the divisional crown to Carolina—the Tampa Bay Lightning are very much the main event this Friday night.
Tonight, January 16, 2026, the Tampa Bay Lightning are in Missouri to take on the St. Louis Blues.
It’s a big one. The Bolts are currently sitting pretty at the top of the Eastern Conference with 61 points, sporting a dominant 29-13-3 record. They’re walking into the Enterprise Center with a massive chip on their shoulder and a serious winning streak on the line. Honestly, the way they've been playing lately, it’s hard to bet against them.
Watching the Lightning vs. Blues Tonight
The puck drops at 8:00 PM ET. If you aren't making the trip to St. Louis, you've got a few ways to catch the action.
Local fans can tune in to "The Spot" (Tampa Bay 66), which has been the go-to for many of the games this season. For those who’ve cut the cord or are outside the local market, the game is streaming live on ESPN+. If you're stuck in the car, 102.5 MHz-FM is where you’ll hear Dave Mishkin’s legendary calls.
This isn't just another mid-January game. The Lightning are chasing a franchise-record 12th consecutive win. Think about that for a second. In a league with this much parity, winning 12 in a row is almost unheard of. They already handled the Blues back in December with a 4-1 win in Tampa, but playing at the Enterprise Center is a different beast entirely.
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The Matchup by the Numbers
St. Louis is struggling. There is no other way to put it.
They are 18-21-8 and sitting 13th in the Western Conference. Their offense has been cold, ranking 32nd in the league for goals scored. That’s a tough spot to be in when you’re facing a Tampa Bay defense that ranks 2nd in the NHL for goals allowed.
- Tampa Bay Goals Per Game: 3.51 (2nd in NHL)
- St. Louis Goals Per Game: 2.49 (32nd in NHL)
- Power Play Success: Tampa is clicking at about 20%, while the Blues are hovering around 17%.
Nikita Kucherov is, as usual, doing Kucherov things. He leads the Bolts with 67 points (23 goals, 44 assists) and historically eats the Blues for breakfast. He has 21 career points against St. Louis in just 19 games. If the Blues can't find a way to neutralize him on the perimeter, it’s going to be a long night for their goaltender.
And then there’s Andrei Vasilevskiy.
The Big Cat is expected to be between the pipes tonight. His career stats against St. Louis are basically a cheat code: a 9-4-1 record with a .930 save percentage. When he's dialed in like this, the net looks about the size of a postage stamp to opposing shooters.
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What About the Buccaneers?
I know a lot of people asking who Tampa Bay play today are looking for football.
The short answer? Nobody.
The Bucs' season wrapped up on January 3 with a 16-14 win over the Panthers. While they finished with the same record as Carolina (8-9), the tiebreakers didn't go their way. No playoffs this year. It’s a bitter pill for a team that had won four straight division titles.
Instead of preparing for a Wild Card or Divisional game, the front office is looking at the 2026 opponent list. We already know they’ll be facing the Cowboys, Chargers, and Rams next season. But for today, the pads are off and the off-season drama is just starting to simmer.
Key Players to Watch Tonight
Keep an eye on Darren Raddysh. He had three points in the last meeting with the Blues.
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Also, Jake Guentzel has fit into this system like he was born for it. He’s sitting at 47 points and has developed a sort of telepathic connection with Kucherov and Brayden Point.
The Blues will lean heavily on Robert Thomas and Jordan Kyrou. If St. Louis is going to pull off the upset, those two have to be perfect. The Blues did manage to shut out the Hurricanes 3-0 in their last outing, so they aren't completely dead in the water. They have some defensive momentum, even if their season record doesn't show it.
Final Thoughts on the Schedule
If you're a multi-sport fan in the 813, the calendar is actually pretty busy despite the Bucs being out.
The Bulls are active over at USF. Tomorrow, the USF women's basketball team takes on Wichita State at the Yuengling Center. On Sunday, the men's team plays WSU at the same venue. There’s even a Rodeo Bull Bash happening at the Hillsborough County Fairgrounds if you want something totally different.
But for tonight, it’s all about the ice.
Actionable Next Steps:
- Check your subscription: Ensure your ESPN+ login is active before the 8:00 PM puck drop to avoid the pre-game scramble.
- Monitor the lines: Lineup changes usually happen after the morning skate; watch for any late-breaking news regarding Brayden Point’s ice time, as he’s been managed carefully lately.
- Set the DVR: If you’re heading out to the Rodeo or a late dinner, set your recording for an extra 30 minutes—overtime is a high probability given the Blues' recent defensive stand against Carolina.