Florida Panthers at Carolina Hurricanes Betting Tips – Panthers To Upset Defending Champs In NHL Opener
The Florida Panthers look to make a statement against the defending champions, Carolina Hurricanes, in the NHL season opener. Despite the Hurricanes holding the all-time series lead and coming off a championship season, the Panthers enter as Stanley Cup favorites after major offseason acquisitions such as Brady Tkachuk and Jacob Markstrom. Recent history favors Florida, who have won 7 of the last 10 meetings and 4 of the last 5 in Carolina, making them a strong contender to pull off an early road upset.
- Panthers are favourites to win Stanley Cup after key signings
- Florida have won 7 of last 10 vs. Carolina, despite being underdogs here
- Hurricanes aim for back-to-back championships after last year's title
FLA Panthers @ CAR Hurricanes Live StreamWatch live online at bet365 > Ice Hockey > NHL. T&Cs apply.
Watch and bet
Geo-restrictions apply. You must have a funded account or to have placed a bet in the last 24 hours. Over 18s only. T&Cs apply.
Florida are tipped to spring an upset on the road on opening night.
The Panthers are favourites to win the Stanley Cup after re-tooling with some big acquisitions in the offseason, and they can make an early statement against the defending champions.
Key Numbers – Can Panthers Make It 8 Wins In 11 Meetings?
- Florida Panthers have won 7 of the previous 10 meetings
- Florida Panthers have won in 4 of their last 5 visits to Carolina
Hurricanes Lead All-Time Head-To-Head; Won Last Meeting
- Carolina Hurricanes lead the all-time series 76-58-22
- Carolina Hurricanes won 9-1 when the two teams last met in June 2026
Florida Panthers Favourites To Win Stanley Cup
Florida go into the season opener as the sportsbooks’ favourites to lift the Stanley Cup next year.
The Panthers lifted the prestigious trophy in 2025, but injuries took their toll last year as they finished near the foot of the Atlantic Division with a 40-38-4 record.
As a result they missed out on a place in the playoffs, and they will be keen to avoid a similar fate this time around.
Florida responded to that disappointment by making several high-profile moves during the offseason.
The Panthers have re-tooled the roster by bringing in the likes of Brady Tkachuk, Jacob Markstrom, Radko Gudas and Akira Schmid.
Carolina Hurricanes Seeking Back-To-Back Stanley Cups
Carolina come into the new campaign looking to win back-to-back NHL championships.
The Hurricanes went all the way last year, beating Vegas in the Stanley Cup Finals to get their hands on the trophy.
Having secured their place in the playoffs by finishing top of the Metropolitan Division with a 53-22-7 record, they swept both Ottawa and Philadelphia on their way to the conference finals.
Carolina dropped their opened against Montreal, but responded in emphatic fashion with four consecutive wins to take out the Canadiens.
The Hurricanes then completed their mission as they twice fought back from a game down in the series to beat Vegas 4-2 in the finals.
Verdict
This is likely to be one of the few times that Florida are considered an underdog this season.
This new-look Panthers roster is more than capable of lifting the Stanley Cup, and they can lay down a marker by beating the defending champions on the road.
This new-look Panthers roster is more than capable of lifting the Stanley Cup, and they can lay down a marker by beating the defending champions on the road.
Florida Win
Moneyline
@21/20 - 4 Units
Bet £10 Get £30
with bonus code NEWBONUS
Available to new customers only. Make a qualifying deposit of £5 or more and claim the offer within 30 days of registering your account to qualify for 300% of that amount in Bet Credits, up to a maximum of £30 in Bet Credits. Once released, your Bet Credits will be held in your account balance and are non-withdrawable. Min deposit requirement. Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits and are available for use upon settlement of qualifying bets. Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. Registration required. Time limits and T&Cs apply. The bonus code NEWBONUS can be used during registration but does not change the offer amount in any way. #ad
Under 6.5
Total Goals
@19/25 - 2 Units
Bet £10 Get £10
Promo Code: NEWBONUS
New customers only. Bet £10+ to receive £10 in Free Bets. 7-day free bet expiry. Stake not returned. Promotional Terms Apply. 18+. GambleAware.org
US sports writer covering the NFL, NBA, NHL, boxing and MMA, with previews, predictions and betting tips across the major American leagues.
He has also covered almost every major boxing match and UFC fight card during this time.. His specialist sports are American Football, Basketball, Ice Hockey, Boxing, Mixed Martial Arts and Football.
Read More
Top Betting Sites
Betting offers
Upcoming Events
09 September 2026
- EuroVolley 2026 -
- Volleyball
19 September 2026
21 September 2026
- WTA Singapore -
- Tennis
- Stake Pulse Beat II -
- Esports
- EMEA Masters 2026 Summer -
- Esports
Load More
Sports Tips Starts in
Today's Acca Tips
-
Soccer tips
-
Horse Racing tips
-
Tennis tips
