How to Watch Wild vs. Lightning on DIRECTV (Thursday, Oct. 8)
The Minnesota Wild visit the Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday, October 8, 2026, at 7 p.m. ET (6 p.m. CT) at Benchmark International Arena in Tampa. It isn't on national TV. In Tampa Bay, the game airs on The Spot – Tampa Bay 66, which is DIRECTV channel 66 in the Tampa Bay market. In Minnesota it's on the Wild's own network, Wild+, and fans outside both teams' markets can stream it on ESPN+.
How you watch on DIRECTV depends on where you live. Here's the breakdown.
- Game: Minnesota Wild at Tampa Bay Lightning
- When: Thursday, Oct. 8, 2026, 7 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. CT
- Where: Benchmark International Arena, Tampa
- Tampa Bay area: The Spot – Tampa Bay 66, DIRECTV channel 66
- Wild market: Wild+ (not on DIRECTV yet)
- Out of market: ESPN+ in the ESPN app, or NHL Center Ice on DIRECTV satellite
- Radio: 102.5 The Bone (Lightning), KFAN 100.3 FM (Wild)
Wild vs. Lightning TV and streaming by location
| Where you live | Where the game is | How to watch with DIRECTV |
|---|---|---|
| Tampa Bay area | The Spot – Tampa Bay 66 | DIRECTV channel 66 (satellite and DIRECTV streaming) |
| Rest of the Lightning's Florida territory | The Spot / local Scripps stations | Your DIRECTV local channels where the station is carried; search "Lightning" in the guide |
| Wild territory (Minnesota, the Dakotas, Iowa and most of Wisconsin) | Wild+ | Not on DIRECTV yet; Wild+ streams on Prime Video with a separate subscription |
| Everywhere else in the U.S. | ESPN+ | ESPN app with ESPN Unlimited (included with eligible DIRECTV plans), or NHL Center Ice on DIRECTV satellite |
Watching in Tampa Bay on DIRECTV
The Lightning's local games air on The Spot – Tampa Bay 66, a free broadcast station run by Scripps Sports. In the Tampa Bay market, the Lightning list The Spot on DIRECTV channel 66 and DIRECTV streaming channel 66, so you don't need a regional sports network add-on. Just tune to 66. Pregame coverage on The Spot starts 30 minutes before puck drop.
Outside Tampa Bay, Lightning games also air on local stations in other Florida markets, and the channel number changes by market. Search "Lightning" in your DIRECTV guide to find it. Fans in the team's territory can also stream games in the Tampa Bay Lightning app for $66 for the season.
Watching in Minnesota: Wild+ and DIRECTV
This season, local Wild games moved to Wild+, the team's own network, which carries every Wild game that isn't on national TV. As of October 7, 2026, DIRECTV does not carry Wild+. The NHL is negotiating with DIRECTV, and the Wild have said they feel more encouraged about those talks than about Comcast, but no deal or launch date has been announced. The team is asking fans to contact DIRECTV and request Wild+.
Until there's a deal, fans in the Wild's territory can watch Wild+ on Prime Video ($19.99 a month or $99.99 for the season, no Prime membership required), on Fubo or on Spectrum. Get the latest in our article on Wild+ carriage talks with Comcast and DIRECTV and our guide on how to watch the Minnesota Wild on DIRECTV.
Watching out of market: ESPN Unlimited and NHL Center Ice
If you live outside both the Lightning and Wild territories, you have two options with DIRECTV:
- ESPN+ (ESPN Unlimited): the game streams in the ESPN app for viewers outside the local markets. Eligible DIRECTV plans include ESPN Unlimited at no extra cost. Activate it through your DIRECTV account, then sign in to the ESPN app. It's blacked out inside both teams' local territories.
- NHL Center Ice: DIRECTV satellite customers with Center Ice get out-of-market regular-season games on the Center Ice channels, starting at 770. Search "Wild" or "Lightning" in the guide to find the game.
Our NHL on DIRECTV guide covers Center Ice pricing, blackouts and this week's games, and our 2026-27 NHL season guide explains which plans include ESPN Unlimited.
Wild vs. Lightning game preview
Minnesota (2-0-1) opens a Florida swing after beating Nashville 3-1 and Boston 4-1, then losing 3-2 in overtime at Buffalo on Tuesday. Tampa Bay (2-1-0) dropped its opener 5-1 at the Rangers, then won back-to-back home games against Washington (3-1) and Philadelphia (4-1). After this game, the Wild visit the Florida Panthers on Saturday, Oct. 10, and the Lightning travel to the New York Islanders the same night.
Listen on the radio
- Lightning: 102.5 The Bone in Tampa Bay and on The Bone's app.
- Wild: KFAN 100.3 FM in the Twin Cities, the iHeartRadio app and the Minnesota Wild Radio Network.
Want hockey and your local channels on one plan? See DIRECTV options near you or call 1-855-690-9884.
Frequently asked questions
What channel is Wild vs. Lightning on?
In the Tampa Bay area, it's on The Spot – Tampa Bay 66, DIRECTV channel 66. In the Wild's territory, it's on Wild+. Outside both markets, it streams on ESPN+.
What time is the Wild vs. Lightning game?
Puck drop is 7 p.m. ET (6 p.m. CT) on Thursday, October 8, 2026, at Benchmark International Arena in Tampa.
Is Wild vs. Lightning on ESPN?
Not on an ESPN TV channel. It streams on ESPN+ in the ESPN app for viewers outside both teams' local markets. Eligible DIRECTV plans include ESPN Unlimited.
Can I watch the Wild on DIRECTV in Minnesota?
Not on Wild+ yet. As of October 7, 2026, DIRECTV doesn't carry Wild+ and no deal has been announced. Wild+ is available on Prime Video, Fubo and Spectrum.
Is Wild vs. Lightning on NHL Center Ice?
DIRECTV satellite customers outside both teams' markets can look for it on the NHL Center Ice channels, starting at 770. Local blackouts apply.
Questions about your options? Call 1-855-690-9884.
Details reviewed October 7, 2026. Game times and broadcasts come from the league and teams and can change. Channel numbers, carriage, blackout rules and package contents are subject to change. NHL, NHL Center Ice, Minnesota Wild, Tampa Bay Lightning, Wild+, ESPN+, DIRECTV and related marks belong to their respective owners. American TV is an independent dealer and resource site.