The Florida Panthers and Chicago Blackhawks will kick off the 2025-26 NHL season on Tuesday night. The Panthers are fresh off back-to-back Stanley Cup titles and return to Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise to raise their second consecutive banner. The Blackhawks are still in a rebuild, trying to piece together a competitive roster around young talent and a new goaltender. Before the first game of the NHL season, continue reading to get my Blackhawks vs Panthers prediction.
Our Blackhawks vs Panthers Pick
- Pick: Panthers -1.5
- Confidence: 3/5
Game Snapshot
- Matchup: Chicago Blackhawks @ Florida Panthers
- Date & Time: Tuesday, October 7, 2025, 5:00 pm ET
- Venue: Amerant Bank Arena, Sunrise, FL
- Broadcast: ESPN
Key Storylines
Recent form
This is the season opener, so neither team carries in recent regular-season form. But the Panthers enter as reigning champs, with considerable experience in high-leverage playoff situations. The Blackhawks wrapped up 2024–25 with a poor record of 25-46-11 and they allowed 296 goals while scoring only 226. The margin suggests systemic issues on defense and goaltending.
Chicago has traded Seth Jones and rebuilt with younger assets. The acquisition and extension of Spencer Knight at least gives them hope between the pipes. Florida’s depth and winning culture give them an immediate edge in this season opener. The Panthers’ injury situation complicates things, but they still carry a much stronger roster.
Goaltending
Spencer Knight will likely start for Chicago. He was acquired from the Panthers and recently signed a three-year extension. The hope is that with a full training camp behind him, Knight can stabilize things in net for the Blackhawks. Sergei Bobrovsky remains the clear starter for Florida. He has championship-level playoff experience and is an experienced presence between the pipes.
Key skaters
Florida must navigate the season without Aleksander Barkov, who is out for the year with a serious knee injury. That is a major blow to their two-way depth and leadership. But they return core pieces like Sam Reinhart, who scored 39 goals in 2024–25, among other important players to their recent run of success.
Chicago’s roster leans on younger talent like Connor Bedard, who had 60 points a season ago. If those offensive names can generate early traction and Knight does well, Chicago may keep things competitive early on.
Best Player Props
| Player | Prop |
|---|---|
| Sam Reinhart (FLA) | Over 0.5 goals |
| Connor Bedard (CHI) | Over 0.5 assists |
Blackhawks vs Panthers Model Projection
Score Projection: Chicago 1 – Florida 4
Win Probability: Chicago 28%, Florida 72%
Final Thoughts
The Florida Panthers should have no problem winning big on their banner night to begin this season. Even without Barkov, the depth of the Panthers should be too much for Chicago to attack with any sustainability. My best bet for this contest is for the Panthers to cover the puckline as a home favorite, as they should get their second straight title defense off to a good start against a team that is expected to be among the worst in the NHL once again.
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