Pittsburgh Penguins v Tampa Bay Lightning, NHL

The big picture

Pittsburgh Penguins come in 22nd on the ladder; Tampa Bay Lightning are 6th. Tampa Bay Lightning are the side higher up the table.

Pittsburgh Penguins are 5–11 in NHL 2026-27, averaging 3.2 goals for and 3.6 against.

Tampa Bay Lightning are 10–5 in NHL 2026-27, averaging 3.7 goals for and 3.1 against.

Form

Pittsburgh Penguins have won one of their last five and most recently lost to Boston Bruins 2–6.

Tampa Bay Lightning have won three of their last five and most recently beat Chicago Blackhawks 4–1.

Pittsburgh Penguins have lost their last four.

Head to head

These sides have met 97 times on our records since 1999: Pittsburgh Penguins 45, Tampa Bay Lightning 50, 2 drawn.

Last time out (2025-26), Tampa Bay Lightning won 6–3 at Benchmark International Arena.

Biggest margin between these two: Tampa Bay Lightning by 9 goals in 2003-04 (9–0).

Players to watch

For Pittsburgh Penguins, watch Nick Robertson (7 goals in 2026-27) and Evgeni Malkin (6 goals, 5 assists in 2026-27).

For Tampa Bay Lightning, watch Jake Guentzel (8 goals, 7 assists in 2026-27) and Brandon Hagel (8 goals, 9 assists in 2026-27).

At PPG Paints Arena

Pittsburgh Penguins have won 9 of their last 19 at PPG Paints Arena.

The deeper numbers

Pittsburgh Penguins haven't beaten Tampa Bay Lightning at PPG Paints Arena since 2023-24: 3 meetings there since then.

What the numbers say

On form, ladder and history, Tampa Bay Lightning have the edge.