Latest news with #OpeningNight
USA Today
3 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
When will OKC Thunder receive championship ring? 2025-26 Opening Night revealed
Over a month since they won the NBA championship, the Oklahoma City Thunder still have one group celebration left to commemorate their playoff run to the Larry O'Brien trophy — receiving their rings. As the NBA heads on vacation over the next two months with its driest part of the calendar, the Thunder have a pretty good idea of when they'll receive their championship ring. The NBA published its key dates for the 2025-26 regular season. The Opening Night will be on Tuesday, Oct. 21. If tradition keeps up — which you have every reason to believe it will — the Thunder will play their home opener on that date. Likely in the debut game for the NBC broadcast, as broadcast rights return to the network. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren will headline the Thunder next season once again. All three signed long-term deals this past offseason to keep them in OKC for the foreseeable future. Besides some changes on the bottom of the depth chart, the NBA champion will run it back with basically the same roster in hopes of being a rare repeat winner. The opponent is unknown. The NBA will release its 2025-26 regular season schedule sometime in August. But you can circle Oct. 21 for when the Thunder will unveil their championship banner and the roster will receive their ring in a pregame ceremony.
New York Post
22-07-2025
- Sport
- New York Post
How the Rangers' rookies could carve out roles this season
Access the Rangers beat like never before Get Mollie Walker's text messages with the latest Rangers buzz and get your questions answered — exclusive to Sports+ subscribers. SIGN UP NOW Comparatively speaking, the Rangers had a robust rookie presence in their lineup over the past few seasons. Between the emergence of the Towering Twins, Matt Rempe and Adam Edstrom, Will Cuylle's immediate impact and the fast-tracked opportunity for Brett Berard, the next wave of homegrown talent already has splashed onto the New York hockey scene. None of those aforementioned players, however, are considered rookies anymore. Rempe, Edstrom and Cuylle should be on the Opening Night roster, while Berard certainly will be in the mix after appearing in 35 games for the Rangers last season.
Yahoo
17-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Once again, Florida Panthers given unfavorable schedule full of confusing travel, plenty of back-to-back sets
The schedule makers sure seem to love the Florida Panthers. That seemed apparent when the back-to-back Stanley Cup champs were given a 5 p.m. start time for Opening Night. On Wednesday, the NHL released its full 2025-26 season schedule. When looking over Florida's 82-game slate, a few things seemed to jump off the page. First off, in similar fashion to last season, the Panthers will play plenty of back-to-back sets. Last year the number was 14, which included the two games Florida faced the Dallas Stars on consecutive days in Finland. This season, without the trip overseas, the number got knocked down by one. In total, there will be 13 back-to-backs, with four coming on home ice, eight on the road and one that includes a home game and a road game. For that split back-to-backer, the road game is the second night and it's in Tampa. Of Florida's four back-to-back sets on home ice, three of them come during the month of December. It's after the calendar flips to 2026 where Florida's wonky schedule really starts to go sideways. In January, Florida will endure their longest road trip of the season, a six-gamer that stops in Toronto, Montreal, Ottawa, Buffalo, Carolina and Washington. Then the Panthers will return Sunrise for a single home game, then head right back on the road for a trip to Winnipeg, Minnesota and Chicago. Oh the fun doesn't stop there. They return home from Chicago and once again, play a single game in Sunrise, then it's off to St. Louis for a one-game road trip. Make it make sense. Please. March could prove to be another rough stretch for the Cats. They play 10 of their 15 games that month on the road, and there will be three back-to-backs mixed in with those road games. Another interesting tidbit from Florida's schedule is that when the NHL takes a pause in February for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy, the Panthers will play a back-to-back set going into the break and coming out of the break. One of the positives when compared to last season is that this time, Florida will only play eight of their back-to-back sets after January 1, while last year that number was 10. Either way, it's becoming clear that winning multiple Stanely Cups and becoming the top dog in the league isn't enough to get some non-wtf treatment from the schedule makers. LATEST STORIES FROM THE HOCKEY NEWS - FLORIDA New Report Shares Bad News About Panthers' Matthew Tkachuk's Injury Full Florida Panthers 2025-26 schedule released Early predictions on how Florida Panthers defenseman will line up on Opening Night Does The Increased Cap Hit Come With Added Pressure For Panthers' Sam Bennett? Roberto Luongo breaks out Labubu dolls during special time with Stanley Cup Photo caption: Feb 2, 2025; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Florida Panthers head coach Paul Maurice watches from the bench against the New York Islanders during the third period at Amerant Bank Arena. (Sam Navarro-Imagn Images)
Time of India
14-07-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
NHL announces Oct. 7 tripleheader to open 2025–26 season: Panthers, Rangers, Avalanche headline night
2025–26 NHL season kicks off Oct. 7 with stacked Opening Night tripleheader (Getty Images) Hockey fans, mark your calendars. The 2025–26 NHL season officially opens on Tuesday, October 7, and the league isn't easing into it, it's launching with a tripleheader packed with drama, star power, and must-watch matchups. From the Panthers raising another Stanley Cup banner to a spicy coaching reunion between the Rangers and Penguins, the first night of hockey is bringing playoff-level energy straight out of the gate. And yes, it's all airing live on ESPN, Sportsnet, and TVA Sports. The champs go first: Panthers to raise banner vs. Connor Bedard and the Blackhawks The night kicks off at 5 p.m. ET with the Florida Panthers, now back-to-back Stanley Cup champs, hosting the Chicago Blackhawks. Expect a big banner ceremony in Sunrise and a bigger challenge for young superstar Connor Bedard, who'll try to spoil the celebration. The Blackhawks have retooled and brought in serious help around Bedard, but starting the season against the defending champs is a trial by fire. All eyes will be on whether Chicago can hang or if Florida's dominance rolls right into October. All eyes on New York: Mike Sullivan faces his former Penguins in Game 2 At 8 p.m. ET, the New York Rangers host the Pittsburgh Penguins, but this isn't just another divisional game, it's personal. It marks the first time Mike Sullivan, now coaching the Rangers, will face the team he led for nearly a decade and helped guide to two Stanley Cups. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Cardiologists Recommend: Eat 1 Teaspoon Tonight – Wake Up With a Flatter Stomach Hollywood News | USA Click Here Undo The Penguins are clinging to the last years of the Crosby–Malkin era, while the Rangers are reloaded and ready to make a deep run. Add the emotional weight of Sullivan vs. Pittsburgh? This one's gonna be spicy. West Coast showdown: Avalanche vs. Kings closes out the night Closing the night at 10:30 p.m. ET, the Colorado Avalanche visit the Los Angeles Kings. Colorado remains a Western Conference powerhouse, and the Kings with their revamped roster are trying to climb into contender territory. It's a great contrast of styles and a fast-paced way to end Opening Night. Get the snacks ready, this one could get wild. How to watch and what's next All three games will be nationally broadcast on ESPN (U.S.), Sportsnet, and TVA Sports (Canada). The league is expected to pause mid-season to allow player participation in the 2026 Winter Olympics. This will be the final season with an 82-game schedule before the NHL officially expands to 84 games per team in 2026–27. From championship banners to coaching revenge and powerhouse matchups, the 2025–26 NHL season is starting strong. If this tripleheader is a sign of things to come, fans are in for a wild ride. October 7 can't come soon enough. Also read - NHL insiders think Sidney Crosby could be traded and this time, it's not a hot take For real-time updates, scores, and highlights, follow our live coverage of the India vs England Test match here. Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
Yahoo
14-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Florida Panthers raise Stanley Cup championship banner Oct. 7 before playing Chicago Blackhawks
The Stanley Cup championship banner will be raised at Amerant Bank Arena on October 7 when the Florida Panthers host the Chicago Blackhawks. The game - part of an NHL Opening Night triple-header on ESPN - will start at 5 p.m. Prior to the game, the Panthers will raise their second Stanley Cup championship banner as they open the 2025-26 season with the aim of three-peating. Advertisement Florida brought all its key players back from its recent championship run, including Conn Smythe Trophy winner Sam Bennett, who recently signed an eight-year contract extension, and Brad Marchand, the mid-season trade acquisition who was a force during the playoffs. More: Florida Panthers spending money to keep Stanley Cup champions in tact. What that means The other games that night on ESPN: At 8 p.m., Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins play the New York Rangers in Madison Square Garden. Pittsburgh will be facing off against its longtime former coach, Mike Sullivan, now the coach of New York. Finally, at 10:30 p.m., the Colorado Avalanche will face the Los Angeles Kings in a Western Conference matchup at Arena. Sam Bennett of the Florida Panthers carries out the Conn Smythe Trophy during the Florida Panthers 2025 Stanley Cup Victory Parade and Rally on June 22, 2025 on Fort Lauderdale Beach, Florida. (Photo by Eliot J. Schechter/Getty Images) The complete 2025-26 NHL regular-season schedule is set to be announced on July 16, at 1 p.m. Where do the Florida Panthers play? The Panthers play their home games at Amerant Bank Arena, located in Sunrise, Florida. Advertisement They have called Sunrise home after moving there from the Miami Arena in 1998. The team will release ticket information for the 2025-26 season when the full schedule is released. This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Stanley Cup banner raised when Florida Panthers host Chicago Blackhawks Oct. 7
