28-game home schedule at BB&T Center will feature four contests each against seven Central Division opponents
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Wednesday, Dec. 23, 2020
SUNRISE, Fla. – The Florida Panthers announced today the 56-game schedule for the 2020-21 National Hockey League regular season with a 28-game home slate at BB&T Center.
The Panthers will open the season at home with two matchups against the 2020 Western Conference Champion Dallas Stars on Thursday, Jan. 14 and Friday, Jan. 15. Florida closes out the regular season with three games against their intrastate rivals and the 2020 Stanley Cup Champion Tampa Bay Lightning on Tuesday, May 4, Thursday, May 6 and Saturday, May 8.
With a temporary divisional realignment of the NHL, the Panthers will play the 2020-21 season within the League’s Central Division. Florida will play each team within the division a total of eight times this season and will face each team at least twice before facing another club.
The Panthers will face off with these seven divisional foes:
Carolina Hurricanes
Home Schedule vs. CAR: Feb. 27, March 1, April 22, April 24
Road Schedule at CAR: Jan. 21, Jan. 23, April 6, April 8
For the first time since 2012-13 in the days of the old Southeast Division, the Panthers and Hurricanes will play within the same division. The Cats will play their first set of 2020-21 road games against the ‘Canes on Jan. 21 and Jan. 23. Carolina reached the first round of the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs and surged their way to the 2019 Eastern Conference Final the previous season. The Panthers bested the Hurricanes in their last meeting on Dec. 21, 2019 with a 4-2 victory.
Chicago Blackhawks
Home Schedule vs. CHI: Jan. 17, Jan. 19, March 13, March 15
Road Schedule at CHI: March 23, March 25, April 29, May 1
The Cats will cap off their first homestand of the season with two games against the Blackhawks (Jan. 17, Jan. 19). Led by All-Stars Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews and Duncan Keith, the Blackhawks advanced to the first round of the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Florida has not lost in regulation to Chicago since 2017.
Columbus Blue Jackets
Home Schedule vs. CBJ: April 3, April 4, April 19, April 20
Road Schedule at CBJ: Jan. 26, Jan. 28, March 9, March 11
Sergei Bobrovsky, Anthony Duclair, Markus Nutivaara and Alex Wennberg will face their former team during the Cats’ first road trip of the season. The Panthers will play the Blue Jackets on the road four times before hosting their final four matchups in April. The Blue Jackets advanced to the first round of the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Dallas Stars
Home Schedule vs. DAL: Jan. 14, Jan. 15, Feb. 23, Feb. 25
Road Schedule at DAL: March 27, March 28, April 10, April 13
The 2020-21 Panthers season kicks off in South Florida with a set of back-to-back contests against Dallas. The Cats will square off with the Stars in their first game since their exciting run to the 2020 Stanley Cup Final. The Panthers defeated the Stars 7-4 in their last meeting on Dec. 20, 2019.
Detroit Red Wings
Home Schedule vs. DET: Feb. 7, Feb. 9, March 30, April 1
Road Schedule at DET: Jan. 30, Jan. 31, Feb. 19, Feb. 21
A familiar Atlantic Division foe for the Panthers has made its way to the 2020-21 Central Division. The Panthers face the Red Wings in back-to-back games to conclude January on the road, before facing them again a week later Feb. 7 and Feb. 9 at BB&T Center. Florida has won each of its last six games against Detroit.
Nashville Predators
Home Schedule vs. NSH: Feb. 4, Feb. 5, March 18, March 20
Road Schedule at NSH: March 4, March 6, April 26, April 27
The Panthers open their February slate of games with back-to-back matchups against the Predators and begin their first road trip of March in the Music City. The Cats have won four of their last five games against Nashville. The Predators last played in the 2020 Stanley Cup Qualifiers.
Tampa Bay Lightning
Home Schedule vs. TBL: Feb. 11, Feb. 13, May 6, May 8
Road Schedule at TBL: Feb. 16, April 15, April 17, May 4
For the first time since 2015, the Panthers will not be facing their cross-state rivals in the opening month of the season. However, the Panthers will square off against the 2020 Stanley Cup Champions three games in a row twice this season, with each series of games having two matchups in South Florida and one in Tampa Bay. The NHL’s two southern-most squads will first face off on Feb. 11 and Feb. 13 at BB&T Center before traveling north to Amalie Arena on Feb. 16. The final three games of Florida’s regular season will be against the Bolts, with the final two games played at home.
Broadcast information for the Panthers 2020-21 regular season will be made available at a later date.
BB&T Center is the first and only sports & entertainment venue in Florida to have achieved the WELL Health-Safety Rating, which is informed by the world’s leading scientific experts and trusted resources such as the World Health Organization (WHO) and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and serves as the global benchmark for best operating procedures to help combat COVID-19, with a focus on air treatment and ventilation, enhanced cleaning and sanitation procedures, emergency preparedness, and more.
Take a Virtual Tour and learn how you can join Panthers Territory today for priority access to the 2020-21 season and exclusive benefits. Click here or call 954-835-PUCK for more information.
-PANTHERS-
