The 2026-27 NHL season begins Tuesday with a highly anticipated matchup between the defending Stanley Cup champion Carolina Hurricanes and the new-look Florida Panthers. Puck drop is scheduled for 5 p.m. ET at the Lenovo Center as the Hurricanes begin their title defense in front of their home crowd.
The Hurricanes finished the 2025-26 regular season with the most wins and points in the Eastern Conference and the second-most in both categories across the entire NHL, trailing only Colorado. It was a dominant season and postseason for Carolina, which posted a 16-3 playoff record en route to the ultimate prize: the Stanley Cup.
The Hurricanes managed to keep their championship roster largely intact, but they will look slightly different this season. Last year’s goaltender, Frederik Andersen, signed with Edmonton in free agency after a stellar Stanley Cup Playoffs performance in which the veteran started 16 games, posted a .910 save percentage, and recorded three shutouts.
Carolina will also be without Seth Jarvis as he continues to recover from right shoulder surgery and is expected to miss at least the first few weeks of the season. Jarvis led the Hurricanes with 32 goals during the regular season last year and also performed well in the playoffs.
The Panthers had a disappointing season last year, missing the playoffs and finishing near the bottom of the standings. However, Florida won back-to-back Stanley Cups in 2024 and 2025 and made several notable additions this offseason in an effort to contend for a championship once again.
Veteran goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky signed a three-year contract with Toronto during the offseason after spending seven seasons with the Panthers. Florida replaced him by acquiring former All-Star Jacob Markström in a trade with New Jersey. The headline acquisition, however, was a blockbuster trade for Brady Tkachuk from Ottawa, pairing him with his brother Matthew Tkachuk.
Keep reading for Panthers vs. Hurricanes predictions, picks, odds, and more for Tuesday’s NHL season opener.
Panthers vs. Hurricanes Odds
Hard Rock Bet Sportsbook lists the Hurricanes as home favorites against the Panthers:
Panthers vs. Hurricanes Predictions
And just like that, the NHL is back. With a new season beginning, it’s worth remembering that the Stats Hub at Hard Rock Bet Sportsbook offers hockey betting insights and trends for teams, players, and specific matchups to provide valuable information when placing wagers, including our Panthers vs. Hurricanes prediction below:
Hurricanes vs. Panthers Best Bet: Over 6.5 (+100)
At first glance, seven total goals between the Panthers and Hurricanes may seem like a lot, but there are several reasons to believe these teams are capable of reaching that mark Tuesday night. For starters, the Stats Hub notes that each of the last four games between Florida and Carolina has gone Over the total goals line.
It’s a brand-new season, which means players should be fired up and ready to go after the offseason. The atmosphere should be electric at the Lenovo Center, with Carolina still riding the high of winning the Stanley Cup a few months ago and its players likely feeding off the energy of the home crowd. Even in a hostile environment, that type of atmosphere could fire up the Panthers as well.
There’s plenty of talent set to take the ice on both sides, and you have to imagine the Tkachuk brothers would love to make their mark in their first NHL game as teammates.
One final factor to consider is that both teams will feature different goaltenders from last season. While both have plenty of NHL experience and success, they’re joining new teams and adjusting to new teammates, which could create an early-season adjustment period.
- Hurricanes vs. Panthers Total Pick for Sept. 29: Over 6.5 (+100)
Top 5 Most-Bet Player Props for FLA-CAR
The Tkachuk brothers are prominently featured among the most-bet player props for Tuesday night’s game against the Hurricanes, particularly Brady, who accounts for three of the top five:
- Brady Tkachuk – Over 0.5 Points
- Brady Tkachuk – Over 0.5 Goals
- Aleksander Barkov – Over 0.5 Points
- Brady Tkachuk – Over 2.5 Shots
- Matthew Tkachuk – Over 0.5 Points
Panthers vs. Hurricanes Betting Splits
Here’s how the action is trending at Hard Rock Bet for Panthers vs. Hurricanes heading into puck drop:
- The Panthers are seeing slightly more moneyline action with 52.9% of wagers and are generating 69.5% of the dollars.
- Florida is attracting more puck line support with 77.6% of wagers and 73.7% of the dollars.
- The Under accounts for 55.5% of wagers, but the Over is drawing 56.6% of the dollars on the total.
Panthers vs. Hurricanes Game Info
- 📍 Where: Lenovo Center, Raleigh, NC
- 📅 Date: Tuesday, Sept. 29
- ⏰ Puck Drop: 5:00 PM ET
- 📺💻 TV/Streaming: ESPN
More Ways to Bet
Whether it’s a tight total or a late-game push, Florida players can keep the excitement going with Real Money Games powered by Past Motor Racing, only on Hard Rock Bet, another way to play while you follow every puck.
Referenced odds are subject to change.
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