Gustav Forsling scored with 4.3 seconds remaining in overtime on September 29, 2026, giving the Florida Panthers a 1–0 win over the Carolina Hurricanes in the NHL season opener for both clubs. The game was played in Raleigh, North Carolina, after the Hurricanes raised a banner celebrating their Stanley Cup championship.
A scoreless game until the last shot
The teams played through three scoreless regulation periods. Carolina goalie Brandon Bussi made 19 saves, while Florida’s Jacob Markstrom stopped all 15 shots he faced for a shutout, according to Reuters and an Associated Press game recap. Forsling, a defenseman, beat Bussi late in the extra period to settle the game before a shootout could be needed.
The overtime winner was Florida’s only shot in the extra period, Reuters reported. That made the timing decisive: a single goal ended a tightly defended opener after more than 64 minutes without a score. The result is the first regular-season game for each team, so it is too early to infer a trend in their offenses or standings from the low score alone.
Opening-night context
The matchup paired the winners of the previous two Stanley Cups. Carolina entered as defending champion, and the Hurricanes’ banner ceremony preceded the game. Florida’s win gives the Panthers a 1–0 start while Carolina takes an overtime loss. Both teams still earned their outcomes in a long season rather than in a playoff series.
Markstrom’s shutout in his return to Florida and Bussi’s 19-save effort kept the game close. The decisive goal came from a player who scored only twice in 80 regular-season games last season, according to the Reuters report. For another NHL personnel development before this season, see our report on the Ottawa Senators naming Thomas Chabot captain.
Sources and image credit
Reuters / Field Level Media game report (September 30, 2026 UTC), Associated Press recap via CBS Sports (September 29, 2026), and Carolina Hurricanes official season-opener preview (September 29, 2026). Featured image: illustrative ice-hockey photograph by Nikolay Loubet / Unsplash; it does not show this game.