The Florida Panthers celebrate their second straight Stanley Cup title on Tuesday night as they host the Chicago Blackhawks at Amerant Bank Arena to open the 2025-26 NHL season.

SUNRISE, Fla. (AP) — Jesper Boqvist scored the go-ahead goal midway through the third period and the Florida Panthers, after raising their second straight Stanley Cup banner, opened defense of the title by beating the Chicago Blackhawks 3-2 on Tuesday night.

The Florida Panthers and Chicago Blackhawks kicked off a new hockey season on Tuesday night in Sunrise. Florida, the NHL’s back-to-back defending Stanley Cup Champions, raised their 2025 championship banner before facing off against the young Blackhawks at Amerant Bank Arena.

Our Blackhawks vs. Panthers predictions see value in backing Frank Nazar and Chicago to keep things close in a tight game vs. a wounded Florida squad. Free NHL picks for Tuesday, October 7, 2025.

The Chicago Blackhawks face the Florida Panthers on Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2025 (10/7/25) in a regular season game at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, Florida.

Frank Nazar, who signed a seven-year contract extension with the Blackhawks in August, scored his team's first goal of the NHL season.

The Chicago Blackhawks had a tall hill to climb with their first game of the season being against the defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers. That would be a tough start for a team full of seasoned veterans,

The Chicago Blackhawks have strengthened their blue line with the addition of veteran defenseman Matt Grzelcyk, announcing on Tuesday that the team has agreed to terms with him on a one-year contract worth $1 million through the 2025–26 NHL season.