Week 1 of the 2026-27 NHL season continues Thursday night, and while the Florida Panthers (1-0-0) have already begun their season, they remain on the road to face the San Jose Sharks (0-0-0) at the SAP Center in San Jose’s first game of the year.
The Panthers started the new season in the win column after defeating the defending Stanley Cup champion Carolina Hurricanes 1-0 in overtime in the NHL’s opening game Tuesday night. It was the first look at this new and improved Florida team after missing the playoffs a season ago and making several major offseason moves, including acquiring Brady Tkachuk in a trade to pair him with his brother, Matthew Tkachuk.
Neither Tkachuk brother recorded a point in the win, but goaltender Jacob Markström, who was also acquired in a trade this past offseason, made an excellent Panthers debut with 15 saves in the shutout. Veteran defenseman Gustav Forsling scored the game-winning goal on a slap shot with just 4.3 seconds remaining in overtime to stun the Carolina crowd.
The Sharks also missed the playoffs last season but underwent a significant roster overhaul during the offseason in hopes of becoming contenders in 2026-27. While key players such as William Eklund, Mario Ferraro, and Shakir Mukhamadullin are no longer with the team, San Jose made several notable additions, including defensemen Darnell Nurse and Jacob Trouba. The Sharks also signed veteran forward Mason Marchment and selected 19-year-old forward Ivar Stenberg second overall in the 2026 NHL Draft.
There may not be a player entering this season with more anticipation surrounding him than third-year Sharks forward Macklin Celebrini. The 2024 first overall pick scored 45 goals and recorded 115 points last season, both of which ranked fourth in the NHL, while also finishing near the top of the league in assists.
The 20-year-old is one of the brightest young stars in hockey and has already established himself as one of the NHL’s top players. Celebrini was named the 11th full-time captain in Sharks franchise history, making him the youngest active captain in the NHL. He is also the cover athlete for EA Sports’ NHL 27.
Keep reading for Panthers vs. Sharks best player props, predictions, and more for Thursday night’s matchup.
Panthers vs. Sharks Odds
Hard Rock Bet Sportsbook lists the Panthers as road favorites for Thursday night’s matchup after their impressive win over the defending champions to begin the season:
Best Player Prop Bets and Predictions for Panthers vs. Sharks
The Stats Hub at Hard Rock Bet Sportsbook offers daily hockey betting insights and trends to help make more informed wagers. That’s where we found two of the best player props for Panthers vs. Sharks, which you can check out below:
Macklin Celebrini Anytime Goalscorer (+120)
The Panthers didn’t allow a goal against Carolina in their season opener, but Macklin Celebrini’s elite playmaking and goal-scoring ability are too difficult to ignore. He’s coming off an incredible season and enters 2026-27 as one of the most highly anticipated players in the NHL.
It doesn’t feel like there’s much more to say.
- Macklin Celebrini Anytime Goalscorer (+120)
Brady Tkachuk Over 0.5 Points (-180)
Brady Tkachuk didn’t record a point in his Panthers debut against Carolina, but he could be in line to get on the scoresheet Thursday night against the Sharks. Not only is he a goal-scoring threat and talented playmaker, but Florida could have a favorable matchup against San Jose goaltender Yaroslav Askarov.
The Sharks made significant changes to their defense during the offseason, highlighted by the additions of Darnell Nurse and Jacob Trouba, but this team finished last season with a -41 goal differential, with Askarov playing a role in those struggles. His .883 save percentage and 3.63 goals-against average were both worse than the league average in 2025-26, meaning playmakers like Tkachuk could find success Thursday night.
The Stats Hub also notes that Tkachuk has scored a goal in each of his last two appearances against the Sharks.
- Brady Tkachuk Over 0.5 Points (-180)
Most-Bet Player Props for Panthers vs. Sharks
Celebrini owns the most-bet player prop for Thursday night’s game, while the Tkachuk brothers are also among the popular selections. Below you’ll find the top five most-bet Overs and Unders for player props heading into puck drop:
Top 5 Most-Bet Player Prop Overs
- Macklin Celebrini – Over 0.5 Goals
- Aleksander Barkov – Over 0.5 Points
- Brady Tkachuk – Over 0.5 Points
- Brady Tkachuk – Over 0.5 Goals
- Matthew Tkachuk – Over 0.5 Points
Top 5 Most-Bet Player Prop Unders
- Carter Verhaeghe – Under 2.5 Shots
- Sam Reinhart – Under 2.5 Shots
- Ivar Stenberg – Under 1.5 Shots
- Luca Cagnoni – Under 1.5 Shots
- Aleksander Barkov – Under 2.5 Shots
Panthers vs. Sharks Game Info
- 📍 Where: Sap Center, San Jose, CA
- 📅 Date: Thursday, Oct. 1
- ⏰ Puck Drop: 10:00 PM ET
- 📺💻 TV/Streaming: ESPN+
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Referenced odds are subject to change.
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