Panthers’ Preseason Schedule Features Intense Rivalry Matchups

As the excitement of the Stanley Cup Final begins to fade, hockey fans are already looking ahead to the next season. The Florida Panthers took a significant step in this direction by announcing their four-game preseason schedule for 2026 on Thursday.

This year, the NHL has trimmed the preseason down to just four games to make room for an expanded regular season of 84 games. For the Panthers, this means a concentrated schedule featuring only two familiar opponents, enhancing the competitive atmosphere.

The Panthers will kick off their preseason on Sunday, September 20, by hosting the Carolina Hurricanes at Amerant Bank Arena. Just two nights later, they will head to Raleigh to face off against the Hurricanes again at Lenovo Center.

Later that week, the Panthers will make a stop at Benchmark International Arena for a key matchup with their rivals, the Tampa Bay Lightning, on Thursday night. The Panthers will then conclude their exhibition slate with a rematch against the Lightning back in Sunrise on Saturday, September 26.

Fans will remember the explosive finish to the 2025 preseason, where the Panthers and Lightning faced each other three times, leading to a staggering accumulation of penalty minutes. The second-to-last game in Tampa saw the teams combine for 186 penalty minutes, but the final showdown in Sunrise escalated dramatically, culminating in a jaw-dropping 322 penalty minutes.

With such a fiery history, this preseason schedule promises to reignite the fierce rivalry between these teams. The stage is set for what could be another unforgettable series of games as the Panthers and Lightning prepare to clash once more.

Note: This recap is an independently written summary based on publicly available reporting.