Opening night in the NHL is Tuesday and there are three nationally televised games on the schedule. Here are five things to watch:

Three-peat attempt begins

The Florida Panthers open the 2025-26 season and defense of their back-to-back Stanley Cup wins against the Chicago Blackhawks at Amerant Bank Arena (5 p.m. ET; ESPN, SN1, TVAS). Thought banner will go up, two of the main players who helped get it there, Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov and alternate captain Matthew Tkachuk , will not be on the ice. Both are sidelined long term because of injury, with Tkachuk likely out until at least December following surgery to repair a torn adductor muscle Aug. 22 and Barkov expected to miss 7-9 months after surgery to his ACL and MCL in his right knee.

Penguins vs. Sullivan

For a decade,

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