Panthers vs. Sharks: Florida brings huge 1-0 OT win west
The Florida Panthers open their road schedule against the San Jose Sharks on Thursday, Oct. 1, at SAP Center in San Jose, California, looking to build on a dramatic season-opening win. Panthers vs. Sharks is the Sharks’ regular-season debut, while Florida plays its second game in three days.
Gustav Forsling’s one-timer with 4.3 seconds left in overtime lifted Florida past the reigning Stanley Cup champion Carolina Hurricanes 1-0 on Tuesday in Raleigh, North Carolina, according to the Associated Press. San Jose’s opening-roster announcement outlined Opening Night plans for the home opener.
Panthers vs. Sharks game information
- Date: Thursday, Oct. 1
- Time: 10 p.m. ET (7 p.m. PT)
- Venue: SAP Center at San Jose, San Jose, California
- TV/Streaming: ESPN+, Scripps Sports, NBC Sports Bay Area
- Records: Florida 1-0-0, San Jose 0-0-0
Florida Panthers outlook
Florida’s biggest offseason change came in net, where Jacob Markstrom took over the crease Sergei Bobrovsky anchored during the Panthers’ title runs. Markstrom made 15 saves in his Florida debut, the AP reported, as the teams combined for 13 power plays in regulation without a goal.
Forsling scored the only goal, and Carter Verhaeghe set it up by carrying the puck into the zone and dropping it back to the defenseman. Florida also has captain Aleksander Barkov back from a lengthy injury and added Brady Tkachuk, brother of Panthers star Matthew Tkachuk, in the offseason.
The Panthers are without three forwards on injured reserve, per ESPN: Brad Marchand (lower body, projected return Oct. 25), Jonah Gadjovich (upper body, Oct. 17) and MacKenzie Entwistle (undisclosed, Oct. 10).
San Jose Sharks outlook
San Jose has five players on injured reserve, according to ESPN: Adam Gaudette (upper body, projected return Oct. 10), Alex Barre-Boulet (undisclosed, Oct. 5), Cam Lund (upper body, Oct. 19), and Quentin Musty and goaltender Kyle Keyser (both upper body, December).
Yaroslav Askarov and Alex Nedeljkovic are the two goaltenders on the Sharks’ opening roster. Macklin Celebrini was named the franchise’s 11th full-time captain Sept. 25, and he’ll wear the “C” in a regular-season game for the first time. Fans at the opener will receive a concert-style T-shirt featuring Celebrini and Will Smith, and a free pregame festival runs from 3 to 6 p.m. at Arena Green West, the team said.
Key matchup in Panthers vs. Sharks
Goaltending could decide it again. Florida did not score in regulation against Carolina, and Markstrom and Hurricanes goalie Brandon Bussi held up through multiple quality chances, per the AP. San Jose’s young forward group now faces a Panthers team that reached three straight Stanley Cup Finals and won the Cup in 2024 and 2025.
Bussi made 19 saves in the opener, months after posting a shutout in Carolina’s Cup-clinching win over Vegas, the AP noted. Florida had eliminated Carolina twice in the Eastern Conference Final during its run of Finals appearances.
Preseason form
San Jose closed the preseason on a high note, routing Anaheim 10-0 on Sept. 25 and winning 4-2 at Vegas on Sept. 27, according to ESPN. Florida went 2-0-2 in its final four exhibitions, with both losses coming in shootouts. That gives the Sharks some confidence heading into Panthers vs. Sharks.
What to watch
Florida has one day off after Tuesday’s overtime finish in Raleigh, making fatigue and the goaltending rotation worth tracking against a rested Sharks team. After Panthers vs. Sharks, Florida visits the Anaheim Ducks on Sunday, Oct. 4, while San Jose hosts the Los Angeles Kings on Saturday, Oct. 3, per ESPN.
For more, read about Brady Tkachuk’s move to Florida, Celebrini’s extension with San Jose and our latest NHL coverage.
Reporting from The Associated Press and NHL.com contributed to this story. Statistics and injury report: ESPN.