Surprise, Surprise... Florida Panthers home opener is versus the Lightning on October 5

The NHL just released the 2019-20 home openers for all 31 teams and the Florida Panthers will host the Tampa Bay Lightning at the BB&T Center on October 5. Looking down the list we can deduce that the Cats will open the season on the 3rd against the Bolts at Amalie Arena. Really...

Here’s the full list of 2019-20 home openers:

Anaheim Ducks: Thursday, Oct. 3 vs. Arizona Coyotes

Arizona Coyotes: Saturday, Oct. 5 vs. Boston Bruins

Boston Bruins: Saturday, Oct. 12 vs. New Jersey Devils

Buffalo Sabres: Saturday, Oct. 5 vs. New Jersey Devils

Calgary Flames: Saturday, Oct. 5 vs. Vancouver Canucks

Carolina Hurricanes: Thursday, Oct. 3 vs. Montreal Canadiens

Chicago Blackhawks: Thursday, Oct. 10 vs. San Jose Sharks

Colorado Avalanche: Thursday, Oct. 3 vs. Calgary Flames

Columbus Blue Jackets: Friday, Oct. 4 vs. Toronto Maple Leafs

Dallas Stars: Thursday, Oct. 3 vs. Boston Bruins

Detroit Red Wings: Sunday, Oct. 6 vs. Dallas Stars

Edmonton Oilers: Wednesday, Oct. 2 vs. Vancouver Canucks

Florida Panthers: Saturday, Oct. 5 vs. Tampa Bay Lightning

Los Angeles Kings: Saturday, Oct. 12 vs. Nashville Predators

Minnesota Wild: Saturday, Oct. 12 vs. Pittsburgh Penguins

Montreal Canadiens: Thursday, Oct. 10 vs. Detroit Red Wings

Nashville Predators: Thursday, Oct. 3 vs. Minnesota Wild

New Jersey Devils: Friday, Oct. 4 vs. Winnipeg Jets

New York Islanders: Friday, Oct. 4 vs. Washington Capitals (at Nassau Coliseum)

New York Rangers: Thursday, Oct. 3 vs. Winnipeg Jets

Ottawa Senators: Saturday, Oct. 5 vs. New York Rangers

Philadelphia Flyers: Wednesday, Oct. 9 vs. New Jersey Devils

Pittsburgh Penguins: Thursday, Oct. 3 vs. Buffalo Sabres

San Jose Sharks: Friday, Oct. 4 vs. Vegas Golden Knights

St. Louis Blues: Wednesday, Oct. 2 vs. Washington Capitals

Tampa Bay Lightning: Thursday, Oct. 3 vs. Florida Panthers

Toronto Maple Leafs: Wednesday, Oct. 2 vs. Ottawa Senators

Vancouver Canucks: Wednesday, Oct. 9 vs. Los Angeles Kings

Vegas Golden Knights: Wednesday, Oct. 2 vs. San Jose Sharks

Washington Capitals: Saturday, Oct. 5 vs. Carolina Hurricanes

Winnipeg Jets: Thursday, Oct. 10 vs. Minnesota Wild