Forsling scores OT winner with 4.3 seconds left, Panthers spoil Hurricanes’ banner raising
Markstrom posts 15-save shutout in debut of second stint with Florida
By Kurt Dusterberg
NHL.com Independent Correspondent
RALEIGH, N.C. -- Gustav Forsling scored with 4.3 seconds remaining in overtime, and the Florida Panthers opened the 2026-27 regular season by defeating the defending Stanley Cup champion Carolina Hurricanes 1-0 at Lenovo Center on Tuesday.
Forsling one-timed a pass from Carter Verhaeghe just inside the blue line.
“It felt really good,” Forsling said. “Scoring goals is not what I do very often, so it’s always nice to score. I figured there was not a lot left on the clock there, so I just got open and he made a perfect pass.”
Jacob Markstrom, who was acquired in a trade with the New Jersey Devils on June 30, made 15 saves for the Panthers. Markstrom was a second-round pick (No. 31) by Florida in the 2008 NHL Draft and played his first four seasons for the Panthers.
“Both teams were really hard on pucks and lots of battling,” Florida coach Paul Maurice said. “It may not have had the flow that excites fans, but for the identities of the (two) teams, I was really happy with our game.”
The 36-year-old goalie was not busy early in the game, stopping three shots in the first period, but he stopped Sebastian Aho’s snap shot on a breakaway at 11:29 of the second.
“(Aho) maybe felt the backchecker was going to catch him,” Markstrom said. “So I figured I’d try to grab some ice. He tried to go five-hole, and I was fortunate enough to stop it.”
Brandon Bussi made 19 saves for the Hurricanes.
“They made it hard on us, and when we did have opportunities, we beat it up,” Carolina coach Rod Brind’Amour said. “I think we are not used to that kind of pressure. We haven’t seen it in practice or preseason games, it’s half the pace of that. Our top guys were fumbling it or just throwing it and passes weren’t connecting. A lot of rust there, for sure.”
Prior to the game, the Hurricanes raised their 2026 Stanley Cup championship banner to the rafters.
“Pretty special,” captain Jordan Staal said. “... I thought we could have played a little better for the Caniacs tonight, but it was pretty special to have that Cup on the ice with them and share that moment.”
Forward Brady Tkachuk made his Panthers debut, playing 16:33 with one shot on goal. Tkachuk was acquired in a trade with the Ottawa Senators on June 21, joining his brother Matthew with Florida.
“It feels awesome,” Brady said. “It was great, but when the game got going it didn’t really matter. It was cool to warm up and start the game, knowing that he’s on the same team. But once the game started, there’s only one focus and that was to get the two points.”
The Panthers also welcomed back forward Aleksander Barkov. The three-time Selke Trophy winner as the NHL's best defensive forward missed the entirety of the 2025-26 season after sustaining a knee injury early in training camp.
Barkov had one shot on goal in 20:32 of ice time and went 10-for-20 on face-offs.
“It was great,” Barkov said. “The speed of the game is really fast. I missed a whole season, so coming here, the first game of the season is one of the (most) fast-paced.
“I felt good. I haven’t had any problems like overthinking or anything like that. Just trying to play my game. I’m playing with really good players. They help me a lot.”
The game featured a lot of special teams play, but each team’s penalty kill limited the opponent's offensive chances.
Florida finished 0-for-7 on the power play. Carolina was 0-for-6.
“That game is kind of what you expect,” Brady Tkachuk said. “Of course there’s a lot of special teams, but that’s the type of game we play, that’s the type of game they play. Their PK and our PK are kind of what stirs the drink for our teams. You don’t really give up chances because they’re so aggressive. We’ll try not to let that frustrate us. We know it’s going to figure itself out.”
All six of Carolina’s power-play opportunities came in the second and third period.
“I don’t think there was a lot out there,” Aho said. “Obviously, the power play should have found a way out there, but then again, our PK did the same exact thing that they did to us. Tight game. Got a point. Move on.”
