Panthers Top Hurricanes in Season Opener

     The Florida Panthers opened up their 2026-27 regular season campaign with a 1-0 shutout overtime victory over the Carolina Hurricanes at Lenovo Center in Raleigh on Tuesday night. It was the first game played in the National Hockey League this season. In addition, it was the earliest day that a regular season has ever began in NHL history. 

     The Hurricanes raised their 2026 Stanley Cup championship banner to the rafters prior to the start of the contest. It was the third straight season that the Panthers organization was involved in a Stanley Cup banner ceremony. The Cats raised two Stanley Cup title banners at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise for the season opener prior to the 2024-25 season and 2025-26 season. 

     The number of regular season games increased from 82 to 84 in 2026-27. It was agreed to with the new NHL collective bargaining agreement between the owners and the players. The adjustment of the number of contests during this campaign will have the Panthers play every divisional foe in the Atlantic Division four times this season. 

     Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov participated in his first NHL game since the 2025 Stanley Cup Final. Brady Tkachuk, Lars Eller, Garnet Hathaway and Bokondji Imana made their Panthers debut. Radko Gudas and Jacob Markstrom started their second stint with the team. Brothers Matthew Tkachuk and Brady Tkachuk played with the same NHL team for the first time. 

     There was no scoring either team in the opening period. The Canes compiled just three shots on goal in the first while the Cats had six. Neither club scored during the second period and the third period for it to remain 0-0.

     In overtime, Florida(1-0-0) got the win with 4.3 seconds remaining. Carter Verhaeghe skated into the Hurricanes zone and stopped on the left wing. He sent a pass and Gustav Forsling one-timed a slap shot from the top of the zone past Carolina(0-0-1) goalie Brandon Bussi.