Florida Panthers release 2020-21 schedule

The Florida Panthers announced today the 56-game schedule for the 2020-21 National Hockey League regular season with a 28-game home slate at BB&T Center.

The Cats will open the season at home with two matchups against the 2020 Western Conference Champion Dallas Stars on Thursday, January 14 and Friday, January 15. Florida closes out the regular season with three straight games against their intrastate rivals and the 2020 Stanley Cup Champion Tampa Bay Lightning on Tuesday, May 4, Thursday, May 6 and Saturday, May 8.

With a temporary divisional realignment of the NHL, the Panthers will play the 2020-21 season within a revamped Central Division, which features teams that usually play in three d different divisions. Florida will play each team within the division a total of eight times this season and will face each team at least twice before facing another club. Florida will play a total of seven back-to-backs.

The Panthers will face off with these seven divisional foes:

Carolina Hurricanes

Home Schedule vs. CAR: Feb. 27, March 1, April 22, April 24

Road Schedule at CAR: Jan. 21, Jan. 23, April 6, April 8

Chicago Blackhawks

Home Schedule vs. CHI: Jan. 17, Jan. 19, March 13, March 15

Road Schedule at CHI: March 23, March 25, April 29, May 1

Columbus Blue Jackets

Home Schedule vs. CBJ: April 3, April 4, April 19, April 20

Road Schedule at CBJ: Jan. 26, Jan. 28, March 9, March 11

Dallas Stars

Home Schedule vs. DAL: Jan. 14, Jan. 15, Feb. 23, Feb. 25

Road Schedule at DAL: March 27, March 28, April 10, April 13

Detroit Red Wings

Home Schedule vs. DET: Feb. 7, Feb. 9, March 30, April 1

Road Schedule at DET: Jan. 30, Jan. 31, Feb. 19, Feb. 21

Nashville Predators

Home Schedule vs. NSH: Feb. 4, Feb. 5, March 18, March 20

Road Schedule at NSH: March 4, March 6, April 26, April 27

Tampa Bay Lightning

Home Schedule vs. TBL: Feb. 11, Feb. 13, May 6, May 8

Road Schedule at TBL: Feb. 16, April 15, April 17, May 4