RALEIGH, N.C. — Florida’s season began with a reminder of where it wants to return. The Panthers watched the Carolina Hurricanes raise the Stanley Cup banner at Lenovo Center on Tuesday, then spoiled the champions’ opening night with a 1-0 overtime win.
Gustav Forsling settled a tight, scoreless game with 4.3 seconds remaining in overtime, while Jacob Markstrom stopped all 15 Carolina shots in his return to the Panthers. Florida coach Paul Maurice saw the pregame ceremony as both a show of respect and a useful image for a group trying to get back into the playoff picture after an injury-riddled 2025-26 season.
“You get a chance to see what you want so bad,” Maurice said.
Carolina captain Jordan Staal carried the Cup onto the ice, raised it, kissed it and placed it at center ice before the Hurricanes completed their Storm Surge, posed for a team photo and unveiled the championship banner. Florida had been through those moments after winning consecutive Cups in 2024 and 2025, but was watching from the visiting bench this time.
The Panthers responded with a disciplined road effort and got their first two points of the new campaign.
Markstrom handles quiet debut
Florida’s biggest offseason question sits in the crease after Sergei Bobrovsky departed for the Toronto Maple Leafs in free agency on July 1. The Panthers acquired Markstrom from the New Jersey Devils on June 30, bringing the veteran back to the organization where his NHL career began from 2011 through 2013.
Markstrom went 23-19-1 for New Jersey last season, posting a 3.07 goals-against average, an .883 save percentage and one shutout. Against Carolina, he did not face much volume, but he was sharp when the Hurricanes found their chances.
His key stop came in the second period, when he turned aside Sebastian Aho on a short-handed breakaway. Markstrom finished with the shutout in his first appearance back in Florida colors.
Maurice said the adjustment for his new goalie may be staying ready during stretches when Florida limits chances against. Markstrom had no complaint after the opener.
“Yeah, I mean, I would love to,” Markstrom said with a laugh when asked about adapting to low-shot games. “Like, this was great. I mean, we played a great game.”
Barkov returns, Tkachuk starts Florida chapter
Aleksander Barkov was back in the Panthers lineup for the first time since lifting the Cup on June 17, 2025. The captain missed all of last season after suffering a right knee injury on the opening day of training camp, then undergoing surgery to repair his ACL and MCL.
His competitive return came at the IIHF World Championship, where he collected three goals and eight assists in 10 games to help Finland win gold. In Raleigh, Barkov logged 20:32 while working on Florida’s top line, first power-play unit and first penalty-killing group.
“He looks powerful and strong,” Maurice said.
Barkov said the speed of the opener was high, but he did not feel himself hesitating after the long recovery.
“I haven’t had any problems about, like, overthinking or anything like that,” Barkov said. “Just trying to play my game, trying to do my things. I’m playing with really good players. They help me a lot. I’m playing on a really good team. They help me a lot.”
Brady Tkachuk also made his Panthers debut after arriving from the Ottawa Senators in a June 21 trade. He skated alongside Barkov and Sam Reinhart at even strength and joined brother Matthew Tkachuk on Florida’s first power-play unit.
It was the brothers’ first NHL game as teammates, following their run with Team USA at the 2026 Milano Cortina Olympics, where they won gold together.
Brady Tkachuk helped set up Florida’s first scoring opportunity by finding Anton Lundell in the opening period. He was called for goaltender interference after colliding with Carolina goalie Brandon Bussi at 8:12 of the second, and finished with one shot, five hits and 16:33 of ice time.
“I’m really happy with it,” Maurice said of Tkachuk’s debut.
For Brady, the novelty of sharing a roster with Matthew faded once the puck dropped.
“It was great,” he said. “But when the game got going, it didn’t really matter. It was cool to warm up and start the game knowing that he was on the same team. But once the game started, there was just one focus, and that was getting the two points.”
California trip is next
The Tkachuk brothers were seated beside each other in the locker room after the win before Florida headed to the airport for a three-game California swing. The trip opens Thursday against the San Jose Sharks at 10 p.m. ET.
Florida is chasing a third Stanley Cup in four seasons, but Maurice stressed that this version of the roster is still coming together. The Panthers’ core remains familiar, though Markstrom and Tkachuk are major additions and Barkov is returning from a season away.
“This is all brand new,” Maurice said. “Even though we have a core of guys that have been here now for a while, it’s a new team. It’s the first time to get out on the road together, so they’re going to eat together, play cards together, play hockey together, and if you can win a few along the way, you get to enjoy it a little bit more.”
