The NHL’s 2026–27 season kicks off with the Carolina Hurricanes celebrating their second Stanley Cup victory by hoisting a championship banner before facing the Florida Panthers in their season opener. The team secured the title in a hard-fought six-game series against the Vegas Golden Knights, wrapping up the Final with a decisive 3–0 win in Game 6. With an expanded 84-game schedule, every divisional clash carries heightened stakes, reshaping how teams approach their regular-season campaigns. The early matchup sets the tone for a season where consistency and depth will be tested like never before.

The 2026–27 NHL season opens September 29 with the Carolina Hurricanes raising their second Stanley Cup banner before hosting the Florida Panthers. Carolina defeated the Vegas Golden Knights in six games last June, closing the Final with a 3–0 win in Game 6. The new 84-game schedule adds weight to every divisional matchup, but the […]