Miami (AFP) – Swedish center Jesper Boqvist scored the winning goal in the third period to give reigning champion Florida a 3-2 victory over Chicago in the 2025-26 NHL season opener on Tuesday. The Panthers raised their second consecutive Stanley Cup championship banner then launched their quest for a third crown in a row by beating the Blackhawks, the crowd chanting, “We want three” as the banner went to the arena roof.
“It’s an exciting night seeing the banner go up,” Florida center Sam Bennett said. “But after puck drop, it’s back to business.” Not since the New York Islanders won four consecutive Stanley Cup titles from 1980-1983 has a team captured the crown three seasons in a row.
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“It certainly won’t be easy, but the hunger is still there and the belief that we can do it, so yeah, we’re going to try to embody the grinders and find a way to get it done,” said Panthers defenseman Aaron Ekblad. “There’s a lot of work to be done. It’s not just collecting rings at this point. It’s battling and grinding to get it done.”
Florida advanced to the Stanley Cup Final for the first time since 1996 in 2023 but lost the championship series to the Vegas Golden Knights. The Panthers bounced back to hoist the trophy in 2024 and 2025, beating the Edmonton Oilers each time in the final. But Florida was hit by two key injuries before this season began. American left wing Matthew Tkachuk suffered a torn adductor muscle in August and is not expected back before December, while Finnish center Aleksander Barkov is expected to miss seven to nine months following right knee surgery last month.
“We have to get to work every day,” Panthers coach Paul Maurice said. “We have a good team, but we’re missing key pieces for a long time.” Panthers general manager Bill Zito said his squad has focus on this season, not a three-peat. “I don’t think we’re embracing that,” Zito said. “It’s more: ‘OK, it’s a new season. Even with our injuries, we have a pretty good team. What can we accomplish?'”
“We’re bullish on our team, and I think the biggest part of it is appreciating how hard it’s going to be.”
– ‘We have to build’ –
Chicago’s Frank Nazar opened the scoring 10:03 into the first period, but Florida’s A.J. Greer equalized only 63 seconds later, and Carter Verhaeghe lifted the Panthers ahead with a power play goal 5:52 before the end of the opening period. “It felt great being back in the building,” Greer said. “With the ceremony, it gives you a little juice. It took a little time, but we got the victory, and we have to build off that.”
Florida outshot Chicago 17-3 in the first period, but the Blackhawks struck again 1:09 into the second as Finnish center Teuvo Teravainen’s goal equalized. The Panthers reclaimed the lead with 10:20 remaining when Boqvist batted the puck out of mid-air past Chicago goalkeeper Spencer Knight to give Florida the margin of victory.
Sergei Bobrovsky, a 37-year-old Russian netminder, made 18 saves for Florida in the triumph.
© 2024 AFP
