This NHL opening night recap covers every Sept. 29, 2026 result. Chaos beat control across five openers: Florida stole a 1-0 overtime win in Raleigh, Montreal spoiled Toronto’s home start, Boston blanked the Rangers with a late burst, Vancouver blew a three-goal lead then rescued it in Edmonton, and Vegas opened with a 5-2 win at home. Below is your full look at the NHL scores September 29 slate, scored goals, and what each result said about the new season.
Table of Contents
Key Takeaways
- Five openers, two overtime games: Florida and Vancouver both needed extra time.
- Gustav Forsling scored the only goal in Raleigh as Florida beat the defending champions 1-0 in OT.
- William Nylander scored twice, but Montreal still left Scotiabank Arena with a 3-2 win.
- Boston scored three times in a 1:15 span late in the third and shut out the Rangers 3-0.
- Evan Bouchard had a hat trick for Edmonton, and Paul Cotter still won it for Vancouver in OT, 6-5.
- Trevor Connelly scored in his NHL debut as Vegas beat Chicago 5-2.
Scoreboard
Carolina Hurricanes vs Florida Panthers
September 29, 2026 | Lenovo Center
Final: Florida Panthers 1, Carolina Hurricanes 0 (OT)
Opening Night started with a goalie duel and a late twist. Regulation produced no goals. Overtime produced one: Gustav Forsling finished a play set up by Carter Verhaeghe to give Florida the 1-0 win on the road.
Carolina had the building and the defending-champion banner night energy. Florida had the patience. The Panthers absorbed pressure, stayed organized in their own zone, and waited for one clean look after 60 scoreless minutes. That is a classic Florida road win: low event, high composure, and a defenseman deciding it.
For Carolina, the process will feel fine and the result will sting. A 0-0 start against a rival with Cup DNA is not a crisis, but it is an early reminder that Metropolitan points will not come easy. For Florida, stealing two points without a regulation goal sets a tone for a long trip.
- Final Score: Panthers 1, Hurricanes 0 (OT)
- The Takeaway: One Forsling goal was enough for Florida to beat the Cup champs on Opening Night.
Toronto Maple Leafs vs Montreal Canadiens
September 29, 2026 | Scotiabank Arena
Final: Montreal Canadiens 3, Toronto Maple Leafs 2
Toronto scored first and still lost. William Nylander beat Montreal 48 seconds in, with help from Morgan Rielly and Kirill Marchenko. The building exploded. Montreal did not fold.
Josh Anderson tied it later in the first. Zack Bolduc put the Canadiens ahead in the second off a Mike Matheson setup. Alexandre Carrier made it 3-1 in the third. Nylander answered again with under five minutes left, assisted by Easton Cowan and John Tavares, but Toronto could not force overtime.
This was the rivalry script Leafs fans dread: early lead, slow response after Montreal’s push, and a late goal that only made the final score look closer. Montreal’s depth forwards and blue-line involvement decided the night. Toronto got elite finishing from Nylander and not enough secondary push behind him.
- Final Score: Canadiens 3, Maple Leafs 2
- The Stat: Nylander scored both Toronto goals, and Montreal still left with the win.
Boston Bruins vs New York Rangers
September 29, 2026 | TD Gardenbosto
Final: Boston Bruins 3, New York Rangers 0
For two periods, this looked like a goaltending clinic. Then Boston ended it in a hurry. Fraser Minten opened the scoring at 16:14 of the third, with help from Mason Lohrei. JJ Peterka made it 2-0 at 17:06 in his Bruins debut, with Elias Lindholm and Hampus Lindholm on the helpers. Mark Kastelic sealed the empty-netter at 17:29, with Minten and Marat Khusnutdinov assisting. Three goals in 1:15. Game over.
Peterka’s first night in black and gold already paid off. Minten set the tone and added an assist on the empty-netter. The Lindholm brothers both touched the Peterka goal. Structurally, Boston protected the house, waited for New York’s mistakes, and cashed in once the Rangers stretched for a late equalizer.
For New York, a shutout loss on Opening Night is a cold start, not a season verdict. The Rangers generated looks and got nothing on the board. Boston’s late surge turned a tight game into a statement home win.
- Final Score: Bruins 3, Rangers 0
- The Stat: Boston scored three times in a 1:15 window to finish a shutout Opening Night win.
Edmonton Oilers vs Vancouver Canucks
September 29, 2026 | Rogers Place
Final: Vancouver Canucks 6, Edmonton Oilers 5 (OT)
This was the wildest game of the night, and it belonged on Opening Night. Paul Cotter scored shorthanded in the first, then won it in overtime. In between, Evan Bouchard ripped a hat trick and still finished on the losing side.
Vancouver led 5-2 early in the third after goals from Cotter, Marco Rossi, Jonathan Lekkerimaki, Max Sasson, and a power-play finish from Elias Pettersson. Edmonton answered with chaos: Vasily Podkolzin scored twice, Bouchard completed the hat trick, and the Oilers forced OT on a late power play finished by Podkolzin with help from Leon Draisaitl and Bouchard.
Cotter finished it at 0:59 of overtime off a Sasson feed. New coaches on both benches got an instant identity check. Vancouver showed jump and finish. Edmonton showed star power and a fragile third-period lead defense. The rematch in Vancouver already looks must-watch.
- Final Score: Canucks 6, Oilers 5 (OT)
- The Takeaway: Bouchard’s hat trick was not enough; Cotter scored twice, including the OT winner.
Vegas Golden Knights vs Chicago Blackhawks
September 29, 2026 | T-Mobile Arena
Final: Vegas Golden Knights 5, Chicago Blackhawks 2
Vegas looked like Vegas. Victor Olofsson opened on the power play. Trevor Connelly scored in his NHL debut. Jack Eichel added one of his own and finished with a goal and two assists. Noah Hanifin and Mark Stone closed it out.
Chicago pushed back. Jordan Greenway cut the deficit in the second. Patrick Kane made it 3-2 early in the third on his return to the Blackhawks. Vegas answered 40 seconds later through Hanifin, then Stone iced it late. Every time Chicago got within one, the Golden Knights restored the gap.
The debut goal for Connelly is the highlight clip. The Eichel line driving play is the bigger story for a Vegas team resetting after offseason roster change. Chicago got moments from Kane and Greenway, but not enough five-on-five control to steal points in Las Vegas.
- Final Score: Golden Knights 5, Blackhawks 2
- The Stat: Connelly scored in his NHL debut, and Eichel finished with three points in the home opener.
What Opening Night Told Us
This NHL opening night recap had a clear theme: new seasons do not wait for comfort.
Florida beat the champs without lighting up the scoreboard. Montreal handled a hostile building after falling behind in the first minute. Boston turned a scoreless game into a late blowout. Vancouver survived its own third-period collapse. Vegas announced itself with skill, youth, and a debut goal.
Across the five games, star power showed up in different forms: Nylander’s two goals, Bouchard’s hat trick, Eichel’s three-point night, Forsling’s OT winner, Cotter’s shorthanded-plus-OT double. Depth mattered too. Anderson, Bolduc, Carrier, Minten, Kastelic, Sasson, and Connelly all left fingerprints on Opening Night.
What to Watch Next
- Can Carolina bounce back quickly after a scoreless home opener?
- Can Toronto get secondary scoring if Nylander is carrying the finish?
- Do the Bruins keep converting late-game pressure into multi-goal bursts?
- Can Edmonton clean up third-period structure before the rematch in Vancouver?
- How fast does Connelly earn regular top-six runs in Vegas?
The standings are only one night old, but the early identity questions are already live.
FAQs
When was NHL Opening Night 2026?
NHL Opening Night for the 2026-27 season was September 29, 2026, with five regular-season games.
What were the NHL scores September 29?
Florida beat Carolina 1-0 in OT, Montreal beat Toronto 3-2, Boston beat the Rangers 3-0, Vancouver beat Edmonton 6-5 in OT, and Vegas beat Chicago 5-2.
Who scored the overtime winners on Opening Night?
Gustav Forsling scored Florida’s OT winner against Carolina. Paul Cotter scored Vancouver’s OT winner against Edmonton.
Did any player record a hat trick on Opening Night?
Yes. Evan Bouchard scored three goals for Edmonton in the 6-5 overtime loss to Vancouver.
Which Opening Night game ended in a shutout?
Boston blanked the New York Rangers 3-0 at TD Garden.
Who scored in his NHL debut on Opening Night?
Trevor Connelly scored for Vegas in his NHL debut during the Golden Knights’ 5-2 win over Chicago.
How many Opening Night games went to overtime?
Two of the five games needed overtime: Carolina-Florida and Edmonton-Vancouver.
Where can I follow more NHL scores after Opening Night?
Track live NHL scores, standings, and upcoming fixtures on 365Scores NHL.
