RALEIGH – Both these teams certainly know how to win.
Kicking off their 2026-27 campaign, the Florida Panthers will clash with the defending Stanley Cup champion Carolina Hurricanes at Lenovo Center on Tuesday at 5 p.m. ET.
Prior to Carolina’s win, the Panthers took home the Cup in 2024 and 2025.
“A little extra motivation going into this one,” forward Matthew Tkachuk said when asked about being on the other side of a banner raising. “It’s against a powerhouse team, the best team in the league. So, we have a great challenge in front of us and a great long road trip.”
For more information on tonight’s game, continue below.
KEEP AN EYE ON
HOT START: The Panthers own an all-time record of 17-10-5 in season-opening games. Their .609 all-time points percentage in season-openers is the fifth best in the NHL. Last season, they opened their 2025-26 season with a 3-2 win over the Chicago Blackhawks.
BARKOV’S BACK: Welcome back, Cap! After missing all of last season with a knee injury, captain Aleksander Barkov will suit up in his first regular-season game since April 14, 2025. A three-time winner of the Selke Trophy as the top-defensive forward in the NHL, Barkov is Florida’s all-time leader in goals (286), assists (496), points (782) and games played (804).
BRADY’S DEBUT: Acquired from the Ottawa Senators in June, Brady Tkachuk will play his first regular-season game as a Panther. In the preseason, the 27-year-old power forward led the Panthers in scoring with five points (3G, 2A) in two games. Since making his NHL debut in 2018, Tkachuk had paced the Senators in goals (213), assists (463) and points (463).
THE NEW GUYS: Tkachuk won’t be the only newcomer suiting up for the Panthers in Raleigh. Signed as free agents this summer, Lars Eller, Garnet Hathaway and Boko Imama will all play their first regular-season games as Panthers. Set to play and important role, the three players will team up on the fourth line against the Hurricanes. Kicking off their second stints with the Panthers, Jacob Markstrom and Radko Gudas will also have extra jump.
FIVE KEY STATS
- Sam Reinhart paced all Panthers skaters with 61 points (29-32-61) last season.
- Sam Bennett has scored four goals in seven games against Carolina since 2023-24.
- Jacob Markstrom owns a .913 save percentage in 18 career games vs. the Hurricanes.
- Garnet Hathaway leads the NHL with 1,353 hits over the past five seasons.
- The Panthers posted a 88.9% success rate on the penalty kill in the preseason.
THEY SAID IT
"Make playoffs. You can't look too far ahead. You have to have a good start. ... We've just talked about that you worry about just making playoffs and that's your only goal. That's what we build our game for each year." – Matthew Tkachuk on Florida’s mindset heading into a new season
“It's a known opponent for us. To be playing an Eastern Conference team, that helps you. To be playing a former playoff opponent, that helps you. They just won the Stanley Cup, and they're going to get their banner raised, and rightfully so in their building. It brings you back to a reminder of that juice.” – Paul Maurice on the season opener
“I honestly feel like, even with these new guys, it feels like we've been together for a long time. I think it's a great spot to come in, and they blend in really well. Starting on the, on the road, you get to know them a little more.” – Aleksander Barkov on getting to know Florida’s new additions
OPPOSITION NOTES
- The Hurricanes have won five of their last six season openers.
- Seth Jarvis will not suit up for the Hurricanes after undergoing offseason shoulder surgery. The 24-year-old forward recorded 66 points (32G, 34A) in 71 games in 2025-26.
- Carolina is carrying three goaltenders to start the season: Brandon Bussi, Pyotr Kochetkov, and Cayden Primeau. Expected to start against the Panthers, Bussi went 31-6-2 with a .895 save percentage as a rookie in 2025-26.
- Alexander Nikishin is not expected to play for the Hurricanes due to a contract dispute. The 24-year-old defenseman notched 33 points (11G, 22A) in 81 games in 2025-26.
PROJECTED ROSTER
Forwards
Brady Tkachuk – Aleksander Barkov – Sam Reinhart
Carter Verhaeghe – Sam Bennett – Matthew Tkachuk
Eetu Luostarinen – Anton Lundell – Sandis Vilmanis
Boko Imama – Lars Eller – Garnet Hathaway
Defensemen
Gustav Forsling – Aaron Ekblad
Niko Mikkola – Seth Jones
Dmitry Kulikov – Radko Gudas
Goaltenders
Jacob Markstrom
Akira Schmid
RECENT TRANSACTIONS:
- Sept. 28: F Nathan Bastian, F John Beecher, F Sam Lafferty, D Alexander Petrovic, F Cole Reinhardt, F Cole Schwindt, F Kai Schwindt and D Donovan Sebrango assigned to Charlotte (AHL)
- Sept. 27: F Nathan Bastian signed to one-year contract | D Marek Alscher, G Cooper Black, D Tobias Bjornfot, F Angus Crookshank, F Jack Devine, D Casey Fitzgerald, D Mikulas Hovorka, F Gracyn Sawchyn, D Matvei Shuravin and F Hunter St. Martin assigned to Charlotte (AHL)
- Sept. 26: D Ludvig Jansson, D Emil Pieniniemi, G Kirill Gerasimyuk and G Tyler Muszelik assigned to AHL Charlotte | F William Bitten, F, Karsen Dorwart, F Riese Gaber, F Robert Mastrosimone, F Liam McLinskey and F Nathan Smith released from PTO and assigned to Charlotte (AHL)
HOW TO WATCH/LISTEN
When: Tuesday, Sept. 29 at 5 p.m. ET
Where: Lenovo Center – Raleigh, NC
TV & Streaming: ESPN (Pregame on Panthers Plus)
Radio: 104.3 WQAM-FM / 560 WQAM-AM (Dade/Broward); TBD (Palm Beach); 100.3 WCTH-FM (Florida Keys); 101.7 WCZR-FM (Treasure Coast); Panthers GameDay App; SiriusXM App & Streaming 931
Watch Party: Funky Buddha Brewery
