NHL Opening Night 2026 Live Blog: Maple Leafs, Canadiens, Oilers, Hurricanes, Panthers Among 10 Teams In Action

Tune in for live updates throughout the NHL's five-game slate on opening night of the 2026-27 season.After the team was introduced, Hurricanes captain Jordan Staal took a lap at Lenovo Center with the Stanley Cup to the reception of cheers from the home crowd before the championship banner was officially raised.Amid a quite first period for both sides, sparks began to fly when Hurricanes enforcer Nic Deslauriers laid a thunderous hit on Lars Eller. Panthers journeyman Bokondji Imama initiated a scrap with Deslauriers in response to the collision, and both players were ushered to the penalty box in the final minutes of the opening frame.After questions surrounding Marchenko's availability for the Maple Leafs' opening night, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman confirmed that the 26-year-old has gone through the necessary immigration processes to sort out his work visa.