Tampa Bay Lightning 2026-27 season preview: full schedule, 84-game regular season, and 17 five-game sets. The Tampa Bay Lightning open the 2026-27 season on the road against the Rangers on Thursday, October 1, 2026. Last season the Tampa Bay Lightning finished 50-26-6 with 106 points; eliminated in the First Round by the Canadiens. Way-too-early 2026-27 projection: the Tampa Bay Lightning have roughly a 71% chance to make the playoffs, projected for about 103 points (playoff favorite). Full 2026-27 schedule and 5-game set tracking are on this page, with live playoff probability updating daily once the season begins.