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3 Takeaways From the Sharks’ Win Versus the Panthers

In an overtime thriller, the San Jose Sharks beat the Florida Panthers 4-3 in their season opener at SAP Center. The Panthers erased a 3-0 deficit to force overtime, but the Sharks prevailed on Luca Cagnoni’s game winner that was…

Published: Friday, 2 October 2026 at 1:55 PM
3 Takeaways From the Sharks’ Win Versus the Panthers
Key Things to Know
  • The San Jose Sharks defeated the Florida Panthers 4-3 in overtime to open their season.
  • Luca Cagnoni scored his first career NHL goal in overtime to secure the win for San Jose.
  • Will Smith scored two goals and Mason Marchment added another, with Macklin Celebrini recording two primary assists.
The Story in 60 Seconds

The San Jose Sharks defeated the Florida Panthers 4-3 in overtime during their season opener at SAP Center. After the Panthers rallied from a 3-0 deficit to force extra time, 21-year-old defenseman Luca Cagnoni scored the game-winning goal, marking the first of his NHL career. Mason Marchment opened the scoring, while Will Smith scored two goals with Macklin Celebrini assisting on both.

The Hockey Writers analyzed three key takeaways, highlighting the strong debut of the Celebrini-Smith-Marchment top line and the impact of an upgraded blue line featuring Jacob Trouba, Darnell Nurse, and Michael Kesselring. Goaltender Yaroslav Askarov made 23 saves on 26 shots as San Jose overcame Florida's physical pressure to secure the victory.

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