Mike Carlson / Getty Images
Hockey history will be made in South Florida this October. The Florida Panthers, back-to-back Stanley Cup champions, will kick off the 2025-26 NHL season by raising their second championship banner at Amerant Bank Arena on Tuesday, October 7.
The opening night showdown against the Chicago Blackhawks is more than just the start of a new season—it’s the first chapter of a potential Panthers dynasty.
Florida Panthers to raise 2nd Stanley Cup banner
Before the puck drops, Panthers fans will get the moment they’ve been waiting for: the team’s second consecutive Stanley Cup banner will be unveiled in Sunrise, celebrating the franchise’s unprecedented dominance in back-to-back seasons.
At 5 p.m. ET, the Panthers will face Chicago’s rising star Connor Bedard and the Blackhawks in a matchup that ESPN will broadcast nationally across the U.S.
For Miami and South Florida fans, this isn’t just an opening game—it’s a celebration. After years of building, the Panthers have become one of the NHL’s premier franchises, and this banner ceremony cements their place in hockey history.
How to watch Panthers’ banner night across the U.S.
Opening night continues with two more high-profile games:
At 8 p.m. ET, the New York Rangers will host the Pittsburgh Penguins at Madison Square Garden. At 10:30 p.m. ET, the Los Angeles Kings will welcome the Colorado Avalanche to Crypto.com Arena.
But all eyes in Florida—and across the hockey world—will be on Amerant Bank Arena as the Panthers hoist their second banner and officially begin the defense of their title.
Panthers’ championship celebration headlines NHL’s Opening Night
From their first Stanley Cup parade in downtown Fort Lauderdale to raising yet another championship banner, the Panthers are making South Florida the heart of hockey.
For fans who were there during the lean years, this night will be about more than just hockey—it’s about legacy.