Chicago Blackhawks vs. Florida Panthers Picks and Prediction for Tuesday, October 7, 2025
Use Code WWWC It’s an interconference tilt on the ice as a pair of teams in different situations collide on the ice in the Sunshine State to kick off the 2025-26 NHL season when the Chicago Blackhawks take on the Florida Panthers Tuesday night and we have the inside scoop with our Blackhawks vs. Panthers prediction. Chicago finished the 2024-25 campaign with a 25-46-11 record and finished last in the Central Division standings, missing the postseason. Florida closed the regular season with a 47-31-4 mark to finish third in the Atlantic Division. The Panthers went on to win their second straight Stanley Cup as they beat the Oilers in six games. In the last 10 meetings between the teams, the Panthers own a 7-3 advantage, including a 5-1 home win in the most recent meeting on February 1, 2025. Read more about this Blackhawks vs. Panthers prediction! Our NHL Predictions are sure to provide a great payout. Check them out!
Chicago Hoping to Start Season on Right Foot
Chicago’s prolonged rebuilding project continues as they finished 25-46-11 in the 2024-25 season, putting them in the basement of the Central Division. The Blackhawks recorded their fifth straight season with less than 70 points and missed the postseason for the seventh time in the last eight seasons. Chicago re-signed Ryan Donato, Frank Nazar, defensemen Louis Crevier, along with Wyatt Kaiser, plus goaltenders Arvid Soderblom and Spencer Knight in the offseason. The Blackhawks inked Dominic Toninato as a free agent from Winnipeg and added defenseman Matt Grzelcyk from Pittsburgh. Chicago did lose some pieces as Cole Guttman (Kings) and Philipp Kurashev (Sharks) signed elsewhere, while Alec Martinez and Patrick Maroon retired. Andreas Athanasiou and T.J. Brodie remain unsigned. Donato led the team with 31 goals last season while Connor Bedard posted a team-high 67 points.
Chicago was 26th in the league last season when it came to scoring production, as it averaged 2.73 goals per game. The Blackhawks were 31st in the league in goals against as they allowed an average of 3.56 goals per contest. Chicago was 7th in power play success as they converted 24.9% of their chances with the man advantage last season. The Blackhawks were 14th in the league in penalty killing as they successfully killed off 79.3% of their shorthanded situations last season. Spencer Knight, who made 38 starts between Florida and Chicago last season, posting a 17-16-2 mark with a 2.72 GAA, a .901 save percentage and two starts, is expected to get the start between the pipes in this contest.
Panthers Start Road to Potential Threepeat
Florida finished third in the Atlantic Division last season but dispatched the Lightning, Maple Leafs, Hurricanes and Oilers in their third straight trip to the Stanley Cup Finals and their second straight championship. The Panthers did a solid job retaining their core from last season as they inked Sam Bennett, Aaron Ekblad, Brad Marchand and MacKenzie Entwistle to new deals. Florida also retained Daniil Tarasov while bringing in Jeff Petry (Red Wings), Jack Studnicka (Kings), Luke Kunin (Blue Jackets) and Nolan Foote (Devils) on one-year deals. Meanwhile, Vitek Vanacek (Mammoth), Nate Schmidt (Mammoth), Nico Sturm (Wild), Matt Kiersted (Wild) and Kaapo Kahkonen (Canadiens) have all moved on in free agency. Sam Reinhart led the Panthers with 39 goals and 81 points last season.
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Florida was 15th in the league in goals per game as they put up an average of three goals a night last season. The Panthers were 7th in the league in goals against as they allow an average of 2.72 goals per contest on the year in 2024-25. Florida was tied for 13th in power play success as they cashed in on 23.5% of their chances with the man advantage last season. The Panthers were 10th in the league in penalty killing as they successfully navigated 80.7% of their shorthanded situations on the year last season. Sergei Bobrovsky, who posted a 33-19-2 mark with a 2.44 GAA, a .905 save percentage, and five shutouts in 54 regular-season starts last year, is slated to get the start in goal here.
Two of Florida’s top three-point getters from a season ago won’t take the ice here. Aleksander Barkov (20 goals, 71 points) and Matthew Tkachuk (22 goals, 57 points in 52 games) are both injured long-term. Barkov (knee) could miss the entire season, while Tkachuk (groin) is expected to be out until December. Nosek (knee) is also out an extended period after injuring his knee in the offseason.
Blackhawks vs. Panthers Pick
Blackhawks vs. Panthers Puck Line Pick
- Panthers -1.5 (-108)
Chicago is a team that had their share of struggles last season and has a tough task ahead of it if it hopes to return to relevance any time soon. The Blackhawks have a new coach in Jeff Blashill and he is tasked with trying to turn things around. Knight has some familiarity with the Panthers, having played there last season, but the depth of the Blackhawks is questionable at best. Florida is minus Barkov and Tkachuk here, though we know how good their depth is, based on three straight runs to the Cup finals. The Panthers were 27-12-2 at home in the regular season last year. Chicago was just 10-26-5 on the road in 2024-25 and has dropped the last eight games against the Panthers in Sunrise, five of which came by multiple goals. Look for Florida’s depth and weapons to deliver another win for the hosts.
Blackhawks vs. Panthers Over/Under Pick
- Over 5.5 (-115)
Chicago finished last season seeing the over post a 42-31-9 mark in their 82 regular season tilts. The Blackhawks put up an average of 6.29 goals per game last season. That number did slide to 6.07 goals per game as the visiting team in the 2024-25 campaign. Florida saw the under post a 44-36-2 mark in the regular season before seeing the over post a 17-5-1 mark in their 23 postseason games. The Panthers had an average total of 5.72 goals per game in the regular season in 2024-25. That number slid to 5.49 goals per game at home. In the last 10 meetings between the teams, the over has posted a 6-3-1 mark. It would be no surprise for Florida to put up at least four goals here, a number they have hit in seven of the last 10 meetings. Take the over here as a result.
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