Chicago Blackhawks at Florida Panthers Picks and Predictions for Tuesday, October 7, 2025

By: David Anicetti Published 10/07/2025, 12:10 AM ET

The Chicago Blackhawks visit the Florida Panthers at Amerant Bank Arena on Tuesday, in the opening game of the NHL regular season, starting at 5:00 PM ET on ESPN. Last season, Chicago finished 31st in the NHL, while Florida repeated as Stanley Cup champions. Our NHL free picks will build your bankroll

Chicago Blackhawks Preview

Chicago continues to rebuild around Connor Bedard, who leads a young lineup that is still learning to compete with top teams. Frank Nazar adds speed and creativity, while newcomers Andre Burakovsky, Sam Lafferty, and Dominic Toninato bring some needed experience. The offense will run through Bedard and Teuvo Teravainen, but depth in scoring remains a concern.

On defense, Alex Vlasic and Connor Murphy handle the top assignments for one of the youngest blue lines in the league. In goal, Spencer Knight and Arvid Soderblom share the workload. Both goalies will need to play well for Chicago to stay in games, especially against stronger opponents like Florida.

Florida Panthers Preview

Florida returns most of its championship core and remains one of the NHL’s most complete teams. Additions Jeff Petry, Luke Kunin, and Daniil Tarasov replace departed veterans, keeping the lineup deep across all positions. With stars such as Aleksander Barkov, Sam Reinhart, and Carter Verhaeghe, the Panthers can score from any line.

Subscribe Now

I authorize Picks And Parlays to send me promotional emails

I understand that I can unsubscribe at any time. I have read and accepted the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy. I consent that Picks And Parlays may use third-party services to process my data.

Terms & Conditions

The defense, led by Gustav Forsling and Aaron Ekblad, is one of the best in the league. Goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky continues to be a reliable presence in net, and his consistency gives Florida confidence every night. The Panthers play fast, physical hockey and rarely give opponents much space to create chances.

Chicago Blackhawks at Florida Panthers Prediction

Florida’s balance and experience at both ends of the ice make the difference in this matchup. Chicago’s young talent will keep the Blackhawks close for a period or two, but the Panthers’ strength on offense and strong defense will control most of the game. Expect a solid home win to open their season. Final Score Prediction: Florida Panthers win 4-2.