Start of the season: Opening win for defending champions: Panthers win in NHL

The Florida Panthers started their mission to defend their title with a win. The NHL champions celebrated last summer’s great success with a banner ceremony one last time, when they won game seven against the Edmonton Oilers with German ice hockey star Leon Draisaitl winning 2-1 and winning the Stanley Cup. The Panthers then defeated the Boston Bruins 6:4 to start the new season.

The game was able to take place as scheduled and was not affected by Hurricane Milton. The public ceremony for handing over the championship rings to the team’s players and employees was converted into a closed event without fans on Monday due to security concerns.

The season started unsatisfactorily for the German NHL professionals. Goalkeeper Philipp Grubauer conceded three goals and the Seattle Kraken lost 2-3 to the St. Louis Blues despite a two-goal lead. Lukas Reichel was not in his team’s squad when the Chicago Blackhawks lost 2:5 against the Utah Hockey Club.