SUNRISE — The Florida Panthers will open the entire NHL season with a nationally televised matchup against the defending-champion Carolina Hurricanes on Sept. 29 at Lenovo Center, headlining a 15-game national broadcast slate for the 2026-27 campaign, the NHL announced Wednesday.
The 15 national appearances out of 84 total games mark the fourth consecutive season the Panthers have been featured in double-digit national broadcasts — a run that coincides with the franchise hoisting the Stanley Cup in 2024 and 2025. The games are spread across five on ESPN, six on TNT, three on ESPN+ and one on ABC.
Four of the nationally televised contests will be played within the Atlantic Division, including a pair of cross-state rivalry matchups against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Feb. 16 and March 23. The Lightning games air on ESPN+ and TNT, respectively.
The schedule features marquee road trips throughout the season: at the Los Angeles Kings on Oct. 6 on ESPN, at the Boston Bruins on Dec. 15 on TNT, at the New York Rangers on Jan. 27 on TNT and at the Vegas Golden Knights on Feb. 24 on TNT. The Panthers close their national slate with back-to-back road games at the Rangers on April 3 on ABC at 12:30 p.m. ET and at the New Jersey Devils on April 4 on TNT at 4:30 p.m. ET.
Home national broadcasts at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise include the Chicago Blackhawks on Nov. 4, the Detroit Red Wings on Nov. 12, the Pittsburgh Penguins on Dec. 10 and again on March 4. The season opener against Carolina tips off at 5 p.m. ET on ESPN.
All non-nationally televised games will be broadcast locally on Scripps Sports and Panthers Plus. The Panthers’ full schedule and broadcast details are available at FloridaPanthers.com/HowToWatch.