![\"\"\/](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/SJS.jpg\")
<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
Image: Todd Little<\/p>\n
The undefeated Florida Panthers kick off a three-game jaunt through the Golden State when they take on the San Jose Sharks in their season-opener at SAP Center.<\/p>\n
Florida opened its 33rd season of play with a highly-satisfying 1-0 overtime win over the Carolina Hurricanes. Gustav Forsling struck the decisive blow with 4.3 seconds left in overtime when he drove a one-timer past Brandon Bussi with the lone assist going to Carter Verhaeghe. Jacob Markstr\u00f6m\u2019s first game with the Cats since 2014 went swimmingly, as he stopped all 15 shots faced to post his 26th career shutout. The Panthers penalty kill (6-for-6) was awesome sauce while the power play\u2026 well, let\u2019s just say there is room for improvement.<\/p>\n
The young Sharks made huge strides last year, finishing with 39 wins and 86 points, a 34-point improvement from their miserable 2024-25 campaign. Macklin Celebrini exploded for 45 goals, 70 assists and 115 points in his second season in the league and fellow sophomore Will Smith was second on the squad with 24 goals and 59 points. The tandem of Yaroslav Askarov and Alex Nedeljkovic returns in net. That\u2019s an area that could be in need of an upgrade if San Jose wants to end its long playoff drought. Paging Connor Hellebuyck. <\/p>\n
WHEN:\u00a010 p.m. ET<\/p>\n
WHERE:\u00a0SAP Center \u2013 San Jose, CA<\/p>\n
ON THE TUBE:\u00a0Scripps, NBCSCA<\/p>\n
ON THE DIAL:\u00a0104.3 WQAM (D\/B), 106.3 ESPN (PB), Thunder 100.3 (Keys)<\/p>\n
SOCIALS:\u00a0#FlaPanthers, #TurnItAllTeal, #FLAvsSJS,\u00a0@LitterBoxCats<\/a>, LBC\u00a0FaceBook<\/a><\/p>\n ENEMY INTEL:\u00a0San Jose Hockey Now<\/a><\/p>\n FLA IN SEASON SERIES:\u00a0Game 1 of 2<\/p>\n LAST MEETING:\u00a0SJS 4, @FLA 1 (Recap<\/a>) \u2013 1\/19\/26<\/p>\n NEXT MEETING:\u00a0February 21, 2027<\/p>\n PROJECTED STARTERS:\u00a0Florida: Markstrom (1-0-0 1.000 \/ 0.00 1SO) San Jose: Askarov<\/p>\n PLAYER STATS:\u00a0Florida<\/a>\u00a0\/ San Jose<\/a><\/p>\n Thursday in the Atlantic (Standings<\/a>\/Panthers\u00a0Playoff Chances<\/a>)<\/p>\n TAMPA BAY (0-0-0 0P) at New York Rangers (0-1-0 0P) 7 p.m.<\/p>\n BUFFALO (0-0-0 0P) at Columbus (0-0-0 0P) 7 p.m.<\/p>\n Idle: BOS (2P), MTL (2P), TOR (2P), DET (0P), OTT (0P)<\/p>\n