The Cats are officially back.

After making it through their eight-game preseason mostly unscathed, the Florida Panthers will kick off their defense of the Stanley Cup with three big inter-divisional games this week.

On Tuesday, they’ll raise their championship banner against the Boston Bruins in Sunrise.

After that, they’ll visit Ottawa on Thursday and Buffalo on Saturday.

“You’re not wading into this one,” head coach Paul Maurice said of the tough early tests. “We’ve got Boston twice, and then Buffalo and Ottawa are rivals. There’s usually lots of penalty minutes to be had in those games, so we can’t hate the idea of peaking at the right time. But you have to peak Tuesday and keep peaking every day until the end of the year.”

To stay up to date on what’s going on this week, continue reading below.

THE GAMES

Tuesday, Oct. 8: Boston Bruins – 7 p.m. ET

• TV: ESPN, ESPN+
• Radio:3 WSFS-FM (Dade/Broward); 1230 WBZT (Palm Beach); 100.3 WCTH (Florida Keys); 101.7 WCZR (Treasure Coast); Panthers App; SiriusXM 219 / App & Streaming 931
• Tickets: Click Here

Thursday, Oct. 10: at Ottawa Senators – 7 p.m. ET

• TV: Panthers+, WSFL-TV, WHDT, WFTX, ESPN+ (out of market)
• Radio: 790 WAXY (Dade/Broward); 1230 WBZT (Palm Beach); 100.3 WCTH (Florida Keys); 101.7 WCZR (Treasure Coast); Panthers App; SiriusXM App & Streaming 931
• Cats on Tap: Click to View Participating Bars & Restaurants

Saturday, Oct. 12: at Buffalo Sabres – 7 p.m. ET

• TV: Panthers+, WSFL-TV, WHDT, WFTX, ESPN+ (out of market)
• Radio: 560 WQAM (Dade/Broward); 1230 WBZT (Palm Beach); 100.3 WCTH (Florida Keys); 101.7 WCZR (Treasure Coast); Panthers App; SiriusXM App & Streaming 931
• Cats on Tap: Click to View Participating Bars & Restaurants

VOODOO RANGER / PANTHERS FLY AWAY CONTEST

Want to see the Cats on the road?

Voodoo Ranger is here to make it happen.

Right now, fans can enter the “Voodoo Ranger/Florida Panthers Fly Away” contest for a chance to win one $1,000 Visa Gift Card for travel expenses, two tickets to the Panthers game at Colorado on Jan. 6, 2025, and a New Belgium Brewery tour for two in Fort Collins.

To enter, click HERE.

STACHE DASH RETURNS

It’s time to run with the rat once again.

The Florida Panthers Foundation will host its 5th annual ‘Florida Panthers Stache Dash 5K’ presented by Baptist Health Cancer Care at Amerant Bank Arena on Saturday, Nov. 16.

This run is designed to raise awareness for men’s cancer research and prevention.

All participants will receive a finisher medal, bib, swag item and one upper-level ticket to a Panthers game during the 2024-25 season (blackout dates and restrictions apply.)

For more information or to register, click HERE.

CATS CLIP OF THE WEEK

Did the folks over at EA Sports get it right?

Check out the clip below to see players react to their new ratings in NHL 25.

TERRITORY TALK

Hear from ESPN’s Kristen Shilton on the latest Territory Talk.

What’s it going to take from the Cats to defend their Cup? Shilton weighs in.

To listen, click HERE.

FROM THE GRAM

Matthew Tkachuk, man of the people!

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