For the second straight year, the Florida Panthers will raise a Stanley Cup banner to the rafters at Amerant Bank Arena.
The Panthers will start their march toward an unprecedented third straight Stanley Cup championship in their home opener, where they will raise their second straight banner before their game against the Chicago Blackhawks on Oct. 7 at 5 p.m. ET.
The Panthers, of course, won the Eastern Conference for the third straight season and claimed their second Cup trophy, defeating Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers in six games.
Yet, unlike last season, the Panthers’ schedule this year is full of NHL tentpole events and highly anticipated games.
Where Is The 2026 Winter Classic?
For the first time in the 17-year history of the NHL Winter Classic, the game will be played in Florida. LoanDepot Park, home of the Miami Marlins, will host the outdoor game — presumably the roof will be open? — when the Panthers host the rival New York Rangers on Jan. 2.
We’ve known that was the matchup for months. But we also now know the game will air at 8 p.m. ET on TNT as one of four games that day.
Not only will this be the first Florida-based outdoor game, but it will also be the Panthers’ first outdoor game period. They will become the 31st team to play an outdoor game, with only the Utah Mammoth being held out of playing outside.
Aside from the Winter Classic, the Panthers and Rangers will play twice in the end of the season. New York will host Florida on a Sunday afternoon game March 29, and the Panthers will host the Rangers in Florida’s penultimate game April 13 in Sunrise.
When Do The Panthers and Oilers Play Again?
Florida and Edmonton have become unlikeliest of rivals, since geographically only Vancouver is farther away from Sunrise, Florida than Edmonton.
But these teams have delivered two exquisitely played Cup Finals over the past two years, which means their two games in 2025-26 will be worth whatever time and effort it takes to watch.
The Panthers will host the Oilers on Nov. 22, in the clubs’ first meeting since Game 6 of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final. The game is likely to air on Hockey Night in Canada in Canada though is unlikely to air on national TV in the United States.
Florida will make the trek to Rogers Place on March 19, a 9 p.m. ET start. That game may end up on national television, potentially on ESPN, since the Worldwide Leader tends to air exclusive national games in the winter except on TNT’s doubleheader Wednesdays.
When Do The Panthers Play The Lightning?
The Florida Derby games are epics, and given the fact the Panthers and Tampa Bay Lightning have met in four of the past five Stanley Cup playoffs, these are also must-watch games.
The Panthers and Lightning will renew acquaintances Nov. 15. Then they will play twice in December, in Tampa on Dec. 15 and Dec. 27 in Sunrise.
They will also meet in Tampa on Feb. 5, in each team’s final game before the Olympics break and their final meeting — barring another playoff matchup.
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