RALEIGH, N.C. - Florida Panthers head coach Paul Maurice confirmed Tuesday that his team will take the ice at Lenovo Center to witness the Carolina Hurricanes raise their Stanley Cup championship banner before the two clubs open the 2026-27 NHL season at 5 p.m., making it the third consecutive year the Panthers have been present for a rival’s title celebration.
The decision required some logistical maneuvering. Unlike most NHL arenas, the visiting locker room at Lenovo Center is not connected to the visitors bench, meaning Panthers players and coaches must skate onto the ice from a corner of the building before the ceremony even begins. Florida Hockey Now first reported the arena’s unusual layout as a factor in whether the Panthers would participate.
“We want to be a part of it,” Maurice said. “We’re probably going to go out there before they do to be a part of it, to show our respect for the great accomplishment.”
Maurice, who has deep ties to the Hurricanes organization, raised the possibility Monday that Carolina might prefer to keep the moment private. “Sometimes the other team doesn’t necessarily want you on the bench,” he said. “It’s kind of a private thing. So, we’ll check with Carolina.” By Tuesday afternoon, the Panthers had received the go-ahead.
The coach framed the gesture as a matter of principle. “We have a history, with the Panthers, of being on the bench for any celebrations,” Maurice said. “We believe it’s important for the League, for our players to appreciate the successes of the other players. I think that’s really important.”
Forward Matthew Tkachuk signaled the Panthers would not lack for competitive edge once the puck drops. “We have not talked about it,” Tkachuk said, “but we will be champing at the bit to get out there.”
Despite the ceremonial backdrop, Florida enters the opener with a strong recent record against Carolina. The Panthers won their last regular-season meeting 2-1 and hold a 2-0 postseason series advantage over the Hurricanes, having eliminated them in the Eastern Conference Finals in four games in 2023 and in five games in 2025. Carolina leads the all-time regular-season series 75-50-11 with 11 ties.
The game airs nationally on ESPN and streams on Disney+ and Hulu, with local radio coverage on WQAM. Oddsmakers list Carolina as slight favorites at -125 on the moneyline. The Panthers’ next game is Thursday at the San Jose Sharks at 10 p.m., with their first home matchup against Carolina scheduled for Jan. 21.