The NHL schedule on Saturday includes a matchup between the Florida Panthers (20-14-2) and the Tampa Bay Lightning (20-13-3), starting at 7 p.m. ET at Amerant Bank Arena and broadcast on ESPN+. The Panthers rank eighth while the Lightning are sixth in the Eastern Conference.
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Panthers vs. Lightning: Dec. 27 Viewing Options
- Date: Saturday, December 27, 2025
- Time: 7 p.m. ET
- How to watch on TV: ESPN+
- Location: Sunrise, Florida
- Venue: Amerant Bank Arena
- Live Stream: Watch this game on ESPN+
- Live Stream: Watch this game on Fubo (Regional restrictions may apply)
Panthers' 2025-26 Stats
| Stat | Per-Game Average | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Goals Scored | 3.19 | 9th |
| Goals Allowed | 3.14 | 18th |
| Shots | 29.3 | 7th |
| Shots Allowed | 26.6 | 7th |
| Power Play % | 19.05% | 17th |
| Penalty Kill % | 82.2% | 11th |
Lightning's 2025-26 Stats
| Stat | Per-Game Average | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Goals Scored | 3.25 | 6th |
| Goals Allowed | 2.61 | 4th |
| Shots | 27.6 | 20th |
| Shots Allowed | 26.5 | 6th |
| Power Play % | 17.24% | 22nd |
| Penalty Kill % | 84.35% | 3rd |
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Panthers vs. Lightning Top Players
Panthers
- One of Florida's top offensive options this season is Brad Marchand, who has put up 41 points in 35 games.
- Sam Reinhart has 19 goals and 19 assists for Florida to compile 38 total points (1.1 per game).
- With 28 points through 35 games (11 goals and 17 assists), Carter Verhaeghe has been an important part of Florida's offense this season.
- In the 25 games Sergei Bobrovsky has played this season, his save percentage is .888, 48th in the league.
Lightning
- Nikita Kucherov has totaled 45 points (1.3 per game) for Tampa Bay, with 13 goals and 32 assists in 32 games (playing 18:19 per game).
- Jake Guentzel has racked up 38 points this season, with 17 goals and 21 assists.
- Brandon Hagel's 18 goals and 13 assists add up to 31 points this season.
- Andrei Vasilevskiy is 13-7-2 in 22 games this season, conceding 50 goals (2.3 goals against average) with 523 saves and a .914 save percentage (10th-best in the league).
Panthers vs. Lightning Injury Report
Panthers
Aleksander Barkov Jr.: Out (Knee),
Jonah Gadjovich: Out (Upper Body),
Tomas Nosek: Out (Knee),
Matthew Tkachuk: Out (Groin),
Dmitry Kulikov: Out (Upper Body),
Cole Schwindt: Out (Arm),
Matthew Samoskevich: Day-To-Day (Lower Body)
Lightning
Erik Cernak: Out (Undisclosed),
Emil Martinsen Lilleberg: Out (Undisclosed),
Brandon Hagel: Out (Upper Body),
Victor Hedman: Out (Elbow)
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Panthers' Schedule
| Date | Opponent | Score | Home/Away |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12/19/2025 | Hurricanes | W 4-3 | Home |
| 12/20/2025 | Blues | L 6-2 | Home |
| 12/23/2025 | Hurricanes | W 5-2 | Away |
| 12/27/2025 | Lightning | - | Home |
| 12/29/2025 | Capitals | - | Home |
| 12/30/2025 | Canadiens | - | Home |
| 1/2/2026 | Rangers | - | Home |
Lightning's Schedule
| Date | Opponent | Score | Home/Away |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12/18/2025 | Kings | L 2-1 | Home |
| 12/20/2025 | Hurricanes | W 6-4 | Home |
| 12/22/2025 | Blues | W 4-1 | Home |
| 12/27/2025 | Panthers | - | Away |
| 12/28/2025 | Canadiens | - | Home |
| 12/31/2025 | Ducks | - | Away |
| 1/1/2026 | Kings | - | Away |