You’re probably sitting there wondering if you missed the puck drop or the kickoff. It happens. Between the Florida Panthers trying to defend their status in the Atlantic Division and the Carolina Panthers wrapping up a season that actually saw them win the NFC South, keeping track of "Panther" schedules is basically a full-time job.
If you’re looking for the Florida Panthers, they are right in the thick of a grueling January road trip. If you’re here for the Carolina Panthers, well, the news is a bit more final for the 2025-26 run.
When Do the Panthers Play Again: Florida’s Next Moves
The Florida Panthers are currently zigzagging across the continent. Honestly, their January schedule looks like a flight map gone wrong. After coming off a hard-fought 4-3 win against the Buffalo Sabres on January 12, they’ve had a tiny bit of breathing room before things get intense again.
Florida's next game is tonight, Friday, January 16, 2026, against the Carolina Hurricanes. This isn't just another game. It’s a matchup at the Lenovo Center in Raleigh, and the puck drops at 7:00 PM ET. If you’ve been following the "Cats" lately, you know they’ve been a bit streaky. They’re sitting around 24-18-3 right now. Not bad, but not exactly dominant either.
Here is the immediate gauntlet they’re facing over the next week:
- Saturday, Jan 17: They fly straight to D.C. to take on the Washington Capitals. Back-to-back games on the road are basically a goalie’s nightmare. Expect to see some tired legs by the third period.
- Monday, Jan 19: Finally, they head back home to Amerant Bank Arena to host the San Jose Sharks. If you’re looking for a "get right" game, this is usually it, but the Sharks have a weird habit of playing spoiler.
- Thursday, Jan 22: They’re back on a plane, heading north to face the Winnipeg Jets.
The Florida squad is dealing with some heavy hits to the roster, too. We still haven't seen Jonah Gadjovich back in action—he's not expected to return until after the Olympic break in late February. Aleksander Barkov has been the anchor, as usual, but you can tell the depth is being tested.
What About the Carolina Panthers?
Now, if your version of "the Panthers" involves a pigskin rather than a puck, the situation is different. The Carolina Panthers actually gave fans something to cheer about this year. For the first time since 2015, they snagged the NFC South division title.
But here is the catch: their season just ended.
The Carolina Panthers do not play again until the 2026 preseason in August. They played their Wild Card playoff game on Saturday, January 10, 2026, against the Los Angeles Rams. It was a heartbreaker. Despite being massive underdogs, Bryce Young and company put up a hell of a fight at Bank of America Stadium. They lost 34-31. It was a classic "so close yet so far" scenario that kept Charlotte on the edge of its seat until the final whistle.
Since they lost that game, they’re officially in "wait until next year" mode. The front office is already pivoting to the 2026 NFL Draft. We already know who they’ll face in the 2026 season, even if we don't have the exact dates yet. They’ll be hosting the Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, and the Chicago Bears, among others.
Why the 2026 Schedule Matters for Florida
If you are sticking with the NHL crew, keep an eye on the February calendar. The league is taking a massive break from February 6 to February 25 for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy.
This means the Florida Panthers are going to be playing at a breakneck pace for the next three weeks to bank as many points as possible. They’ve got a "half-season pass" offer going on right now for fans who want to catch the remaining home games, which tells you the team is desperate to fill those seats for the stretch run.
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Key Dates and Viewing Info
If you're trying to catch the Florida Panthers tonight, you’ll likely find them on Bally Sports Florida or the NHL Power Play on ESPN+. The 7:00 PM start time against Carolina is the big one to circle.
For those looking ahead:
- The Olympic Break: No NHL games for most of February.
- The Final Push: Florida finishes the regular season at home against Detroit on April 15.
- The NFL Draft: Carolina fans should mark late April on their calendars to see who Dan Morgan picks to bolster that defense.
It’s been a weird year for both franchises. One is fighting through the winter grind, and the other is already dissecting what went wrong in a playoff shootout. Either way, the "when do the panthers play again" question really depends on which jersey you have hanging in your closet.
Check your local listings for the Florida game tonight. If you're a Carolina football fan, it's time to start scouting college wide receivers and hoping the offensive line gets a massive upgrade in the off-season.
To stay on top of the Florida Panthers' specific line-up changes for tonight’s game in Raleigh, check the morning skate reports. These usually drop around 10:30 AM and will confirm whether Sergei Bobrovsky or Daniil Tarasov is getting the start in net. If the Cats want to survive this back-to-back stretch, they'll need elite goaltending to make up for those tired defenders.