Luca Cagnoni scores in OT in the Sharks' season-opening victory over the Panthers
San Jose Sharks center Will Smith (2) celebrates with teammate Macklin Celebrini (71) after scoring a goal against the Florida Panthers during the second period of an NHL hockey game in San Jose, Calif., Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026. Credit: AP/Tony Avelar
SAN JOSE, Calif. — Luca Cagnoni rocketed a shot off goalie Akira Schmid at 3:14 of overtime and the San Jose Sharks opened the season with a 4-3 victory over the Florida Panthers on Thursday night.
Florida overcame a three-goal deficit to force overtime, with Eetu Luostarinen scoring twice and Matthew Tkachuk pulling the Panthers even at 5:18 of the third. Luostarinen and Tkachuk scored in a 17-second span.
Mason Marchment opened the scoring for San Jose with 5:40 to go in the first period. Will Smith scored twice in the second period, the first short-handed and the second on a power play, both off assists from Macklin Celebrini. Smith and Celebrini each had three-point nights.
Sharks goalie Yaroslav Askarov made 23 saves.
Schmid stopped 28 shots.
Multiple scuffles broke out throughout the game, highlighted by Tkachuk and Jacob Trouba squaring off in the center of the rink.
Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov left in the second period after his left knee appeared to buckle during a scrum with Sharks defender Darnell Nurse and forward Zack Ostapchuk along the boards.
San Jose Sharks defenseman Luca Cagnoni (42) celebrates with Will Smith (2) and Alexander Wennberg (21) after scoring in a overtime against the Florida Panthers in a NHL hockey game in San Jose, Calif., Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026. Credit: AP/Tony Avelar
Barkov immediately left the ice, throwing his glove on the ground as he headed into the tunnel.
Barkov missed all of last season after tearing his ACL and MCL during training camp. The 31-year-old Finn was playing his second game this season.
Up next
Panthers: At Anaheim on Sunday night.
Sharks: Host Los Angeles on Saturday night.
