Florida gets the first shot at Carolina’s crown

[Forth Line Goon]

Article Hook

Carolina gets to raise the banner. Florida gets the first chance to remind the defending champs that Barkov is back, Brady Tkachuk has arrived, and the Panthers haven’t forgotten how to make a night miserable for an opponent.

The Panthers open the 2026–27 season Tuesday at 5 p.m. ET in Raleigh, where the Hurricanes will raise their Stanley Cup banner before puck drop. Florida knows the ceremony well: it won the Cup in 2024 and 2025, then missed the playoffs last season at 40-38-4. Watching Carolina celebrate should give this opener an edge, but the more useful measure for the Panthers will come after the ceremony, when they have to establish their game against the defending champions.

Captain Aleksander Barkov returns for his first regular-season game since April 2025 after missing all of last season with a knee injury. His projected left wing is Brady Tkachuk, making his Panthers regular-season debut after arriving from Ottawa in June. With Sam Reinhart on the other side, that line gives Florida a formidable opening assignment against Sebastian Aho’s group. Matthew Tkachuk is projected to remain with Sam Bennett and Carter Verhaeghe, so the brothers can affect the game on separate lines.

There is a fresh test in goal, too. Jacob Markstrom and Akira Schmid replace Sergei Bobrovsky as Florida’s tandem, with Markstrom projected to start Tuesday. Brad Marchand and Jonah Gadjovich are injured and unavailable.

Projected lines​

Forwards

Brady Tkachuk – Aleksander Barkov – Sam Reinhart
Carter Verhaeghe – Sam Bennett – Matthew Tkachuk
Eetu Luostarinen – Anton Lundell – Sandis Vilmanis
Bokondji Imama – Lars Eller – Garnet Hathaway

Defense

Gustav Forsling – Aaron Ekblad
Niko Mikkola – Seth Jones
Dmitry Kulikov – Radko Gudas

Goalies: Jacob Markstrom; Akira Schmid. T

What to watch​

Barkov’s return changes more than the top line. Florida spent last season without its captain and best two-way center; seeing how quickly he and Brady Tkachuk connect is the first clue to what this version of the Panthers can become. Watch whether Florida can turn sustained shifts into chances against Carolina’s pressure, and whether Markstrom handles the traffic that pressure can create when possession changes hands. The new fourth line also has a clear job: give Paul Maurice hard, dependable minutes against a deep opponent.

What’s next​

Florida heads to San Jose on Thursday, Oct. 1, for the second game of its four-game opening road trip.