The Florida Panthers fell 2-3 in overtime to the Montreal Canadiens in the last game of 2025. Before the contest, Brad Marchand and his family enjoyed a special ceremony highlighting his 16-year NHL career and 1,000 points – a milestone he achieved on Nov. 13.
On Tuesday, the veteran winger took control in his hands after two scoreless periods and turned the Panthers’ man advantage into a goal. It helped Marchand move from the Top 20 to the Top 10 in NHL point leaders. He is leading the pack with 45 points in 38 games. Marchy has been having an incredible time since being traded to the Panthers. Unfortunately, he got emotional in overtime and was sent to a penalty box for roughing. Marchand was about to get back on the ice, but Nick Suzuki scored the game-winning goal with three seconds left on the Canadiens’ power play. It was a dramatic ending, but at least the Cats collected a point. The loss kept them in eighth place in the Eastern Conference.
The future looks bright for the back-to-back champions as the usual leaders have gained confidence and consistently contribute. Sam Reinhart is on fire with 43 points. Anton Lundell is outstanding with 31 points in less than half of the season. Three more players have 20+ points, too: Sam Bennett, Carter Verhaeghe, and Seth Jones. Plus, Matthew Tkachuk started skating with the Panthers for the first time this season last Sunday, Dec. 28, since undergoing surgery.
Another piece of news is the upcoming 2026 NHL Winter Classic matchup between the Panthers and New York Rangers on Jan. 2, 2026. The league and the hosting club have many surprises in store for spectators, from palm trees and beach sand next to the newly installed ice rink to snowball games, a live concert, giveaways, activations, and more.
The Rangers have more experience participating in the outdoor games. They previously won two Winter Classics and three Stadium Series. But they have never played outdoors in Florida. The Panthers have a few advantages. One of them is Brad Marchand, who has played in three outdoor games, owns a perfect 3-0-0 record, and has four points. He is among the NHL outdoor all-time points leaders and can improve his stats to beat Jonathan Toews (7), James van Riemsdyk (7), Henrik Zetterberg (7), and Patrick Kane (6). Marchand and the Panthers will be highly determined to win the historic Sunshine State game in Miami.
The weather will be chilly for the locals as another cold front moves into the state. But for the visitors, it’s still Florida.
Both teams will practice at loanDepot Park on Jan. 1, 2026. The Winter Classic scene will be the first meeting between these opponents this season. New York is currently out of the playoff picture in 11th place in the East. After offseason coaching changes, the Rangers still can’t find consistency in their game and struggle at home. They are 19-17-5 overall but have been good on the road with a 14-7-2 record and a 70-53 goal differential.
The Panthers are one of the best home teams with a 13-8-3 record, a 22% power-play rate, and 76 goals scored. It will be a great icy-hot battle. As the state of Florida will be hosting its inaugural outdoor NHL game, beginner’s luck should play its role. So, the Florida Panthers have quite a few reasons to be excited about turning a page into the New Year