09/29/26 07:21:00
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09/29 19:20 CDT Forsling's OT blast lifts Panthers past reigning Stanley Cup
champion Hurricanes 1-0
Forsling's OT blast lifts Panthers past reigning Stanley Cup champion
Hurricanes 1-0
By AARON BEARD
AP Sports Writer
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) --- Gustav Forsling hammered a shot past Brandon Bussi with
4.3 seconds left in overtime to lift the Florida Panthers past the reigning
Stanley Cup champion Carolina Hurricanes 1-0 in Tuesday's season opener for
both teams.
On a night when the defenses and goaltenders had the edge, it was a blue-liner
who provided the winning play to end a matchup of the last two teams to win the
Cup.
The Panthers had their final chance with the game seemingly headed to a
shootout as Carter Verhaeghe brought the puck into the zone with under 10
seconds left. But Verhaeghe sent the puck back toward Forsling, who fired a
one-timer from near the blue line that zipped past Bussi's glove side to end it.
That spoiled the end of a three-month celebration for the Hurricanes since
beating Vegas in June to cap a 16-3 march to the franchise's second Cup. The
final piece was the players gathering at the blue line and tapping their sticks
as a championship banner rose to the rafters.
That moment came against the Panthers, who reached the Stanley Cup Final for
three straight years and won it all in 2024 and 2025. They had twice eliminated
the Hurricanes in the Eastern Conference Final in their run, though injuries
derailed last year.
Getting captain Aleksander Barkov back from that lengthy injury list was one of
several reasons to expect the Panthers to jump right back into contention,
along with Panthers star Matthew Tkachuk welcoming brother Brady as an
offseason addition. There was also the change by bringing in Jacob Markstrom to
take over the crease anchored by Sergei Bobrovsky during those title runs.
And for much of this one, it was up to Markstrom and Bussi to hold up in net,
including against multiple one-on-one quality chances and a combined 13 power
plays in regulation.
Markstrom finished with 15 saves while Bussi --- who posted a shutout in
Carolina's Cup-clinching win against Vegas --- made 19 saves before giving up
the last blast.
Up next
Panthers: Florida heads west to face the San Jose Sharks on Thursday.
Hurricanes: Carolina hosts the Washington Capitals on Friday night.
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