32 teams returned to NHL ice on Tuesday as the 2025–26 season kicked off with a flare of optimism around the league. Reigning champions the Florida Panthers raised their second straight championship banner at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise before taking the ice for a 3–2 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks. The ceremony carried extra weight with captain Aleksander Barkov sidelined by a long-term knee injury, handing the captaincy duties to alternate captain Aaron Ekblad for the moment as the team celebrated its latest crown while aiming for a third consecutive Stanley Cup.
H2: Panthers begin title defense with a hard-fought win
H3: A banner ceremony that set the tone for the season
In front of their home crowd, the Panthers showed resiliency in a tightly contested game. Goals from A.J. Greer, Carter Verhaeghe, and Jesper Boqvist provided the offense needed to secure a 3–2 win after Chicago tied the game late in the third period. Boqvist’s go-ahead strike at 9:40 of the final frame delivered the home fans a confident start to the season and a reminder that even without Barkov, the Panthers are built to compete for another championship.
H2: Milestones and first impressions across the league
H3: MacKinnon makes franchise history for the Avalanche
The Colorado Avalanche opened their season in Los Angeles with a 4–1 win over the Kings, and Nathan MacKinnon highlighted the night by moving past Joe Sakic as the franchise’s all-time points leader since the Quebec Nordiques relocated to Colorado in 1995. With two assists in the game, the 30-year-old veteran reached 1016 career points in his 871st appearance, later adding another assist on Artturi Lehkonen’s goal. The milestone comes as MacKinnon cements his status as the leading scorer in Avalanche history, while the team itself continues to chase deeper postseason runs.
H3: Crosby ties a long-tenured leadership milestone with the Penguins
Meanwhile in New York, Sidney Crosby assumed the captaincy for a 19th consecutive season, becoming the joint-longest-tenured captain in NHL history when he raised the ‘C’ for the Penguins. Crosby, who has led the Penguins since 2007–08, now shares the record with Steve Yzerman, who captained Detroit from 1986–97 to 2005–06. Crosby’s leadership enters a 21st NHL season, paired with longtime teammates Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang for a milestone 20 seasons together in North American professional sports.
H2: New faces and the season’s early results
H3: Šilovs shines for the Penguins
In Pittsburgh, the Penguins’ 3–0 win over the New York Rangers featured a standout performance from new goaltender Artūrs Šilovs, who earned his first regular-season shutout in his NHL debut with the team. Justin Brazeau scored twice, with Malkin assisting on both goals and Blake Lizotte adding another marker. The win, aided by Šilovs’ steady goaltending, signals a balanced start for Pittsburgh as they look to build chemistry behind a veteran core.
H2: Looking ahead as the schedule expands
With four games on Wednesday and more teams waiting to begin their campaigns, the 2025–26 NHL season already feels like a fresh chapter. The Panthers’ early victory sets a precedent for competitive drive across the league, while the Avalanche and Penguins demonstrated how star players and new faces can open strongly amid the season’s widened parity. As teams navigate injuries, roster changes, and the ever-present pressure of a new campaign, fans can expect another thrilling year of high-speed hockey, tight margins, and the pursuit of the Stanley Cup that makes the NHL season so compelling.
H2: Note on players and seasons ahead
The season opens amid conversations about Barkov’s recovery timeline and the Panthers’ capacity to adapt without their captain. Ekblad’s leadership in Barkov’s absence will be an early test for Florida as they seek a second consecutive finals run. For MacKinnon, Crosby, and their peers, the early milestones offer a glimpse into how seasons can begin to define a team’s identity well into spring.
