The Florida Panthers are about to make franchise history when they visit the Carolina Hurricanes on September 29, 2026, to kick off the 2026-27 season. This upcoming campaign will be the second time in franchise history that the Panthers play 84 games, and the first time they skate in a meaningful game in September.
Throughout their 33-year history, Florida has always started the regular season in October, except for a couple of shortened lockout years in 1995 and 2013. Of course, no one can forget the pandemic season, which also began in January 2021, just four months after the Panthers played their first-ever games in August. Despite qualifying for the playoffs in Toronto, Florida was eliminated by the New York Islanders in four games from August 1st to 7th, 2020.
In 2026, the NHL and the NHLPA agreed to cut preseason games to reduce injuries to star players, adding two games to the regular season. That’s why the Panthers are headed to Raleigh for their season opener.
Here’s an in-depth look at every date Florida began their quest for the Stanley Cup:
- October 1: 1997
- October 2: 1999, 2009
- October 3: 2013, 2019
- October 4: 2001, 2007
- October 5: 1996, 2005
- October 6: 1993, 2000, 2006, 2017, 2018
- October 7: 1995, 2025
- October 8: 2011, 2024
- October 9: 1998, 2003, 2014
- October 10: 2002, 2008, 2010, 2015
- October 12: 2023
- October 13: 2016, 2022
- October 14: 2021
- January 17: 2020
- January 19: 2013
- January 21: 1995
Because Amerant Bank Arena is a busy facility that hosts international acts daily, scheduling hockey games isn’t always easy, even as the top tenant. As the list indicates, the Panthers have most often started the regular season within the first 10 days of October.
Historically, when Florida begins a campaign on October 6, as it has five times, it hasn’t been a good sign for the franchise, which is just 1-3-1 in those games. Moreover, the team has not qualified for the playoffs in any of those years.
It will be interesting to follow the Panthers at the start of the 2026-27 season. Not because there’s no history to show how they perform in September games, but because the last time they played 84 games, back during their inaugural season, they went 33-34-17.
Finally, the Panthers begin the season on the road, visiting Carolina, San Jose, Anaheim, and Los Angeles. This year marks only the second time it has occurred, tying the record set by the 2013 team, which opened its campaign in Dallas, followed by games in St. Louis, Philadelphia, and Tampa Bay.
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