Golden Knights vs Panthers: live stakes, projected lines, and what will decide the late-October rematch

The Vegas Golden Knights visit the Florida Panthers on Saturday, October 25, for a primetime showdown that doubles as a health check on two early-season storylines: Vegas’ unbeaten-in-regulation surge and Florida’s search for rhythm after a choppy start. Puck drop is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. ET / 11:00 p.m. UK (BST) at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise.

Golden Knights vs Panthers kickoff details and context

• Matchup: Vegas Golden Knights at Florida Panthers

• When/where: Saturday, Oct. 25 — Amerant Bank Arena (Sunrise, FL)

• TV/stream: Regional/streaming options vary by market

• Season arcs: Vegas have stacked points through seven games without a regulation loss; Florida recently snapped a skid and are trying to string results together at home.

Vegas arrive with confident special teams and a top line driving chance creation, while Florida counter with a disciplined defensive core and a first line that has begun to tilt shot share back in their favor.

Projected lineups and goalies

Lineups are expected; last-minute changes are common on back-to-backs or after morning skate.

Vegas Golden Knights

• Forwards: Mark Stone — Jack Eichel — Mitch Marner; Ivan Barbashev — Tomas Hertl — Pavel Dorofeyev; depth built around north-south wingers and a checking trio that can start in the defensive zone.

• Defense: Top pair built on puck-moving balance with a big-minute right shot; second pair leans physical, closing the blue line early.

• Goalie: Akira Schmid projected to start with Adin Hill recently banged up; Schmid has banked early wins and controlled rebounds well.

Florida Panthers

• Forwards: Brad Marchand — Anton Lundell — Sam Reinhart; Eetu Luostarinen centers a responsible two-way line; bottom six supplies forecheck pressure and net-front traffic.

• Defense: Gustav Forsling — Aaron Ekblad headline a unit that excels at killing rushes early and funneling shots to the outside.

• Goalie: Sergei Bobrovsky expected; still among the league’s best at sealing the ice on lateral plays.

What will decide Golden Knights vs Panthers

1) The wall battle and exits
Florida’s forecheck is most dangerous when the first forward pins the puck and the second arrives with speed. Vegas’ wingers must win the first touch on the walls and turn chips into controlled exits; otherwise the Panthers will hem them in and draw penalties.

2) Vegas’ power play vs Florida’s kill
Vegas have opened the season with crisp puck movement on the man advantage—quick bump passes to the half-wall shooter and a net-front bumper ready for tips. Florida’s penalty kill succeeds by shrinking passing lanes at the dots and denying the seam. If Vegas go +1 on special teams, they tilt the math.

3) Slot protection vs east-west seams
The Golden Knights thrive on low-to-high, then back down through the slot for redirections. Florida’s defense, led by Forsling/Ekblad, must keep sticks under the bumper and force shots from poor angles. At the other end, Reinhart’s timing on weak-side seams is Florida’s best antidote to Vegas’ layered zone.

4) Goaltending execution on second chances
Both teams generate rebound looks. Bobrovsky’s edge is experience under traffic; Schmid’s key is freezing pucks to avoid extended Florida cycles. The first goalie to surrender a second-chance goal likely trails the underlying numbers battle.

Recent form and micro-trends

• Vegas: Undefeated in regulation through seven; first unit is driving a high on-ice goals rate with Eichel distributing and Stone winning retrievals. Even with a goalie injury scare earlier in the week, the defensive structure has traveled—compressed slot, quick counters, very few odd-man rushes allowed.

• Florida: A late-game road win earlier this week steadied nerves after a tough stretch. At home, they’ve been better at chance suppression but need cleaner exits to avoid extended time defending against Vegas’ cycle.

Key individual matchups

• Jack Eichel vs Anton Lundell (and friends): Eichel’s controlled entries force defenders to pivot early; Lundell’s stick detail and backpressure will decide whether Vegas live in the middle.

• Mitch Marner vs the top pair: Marner’s deception on the half wall can pull penalty killers out of shape; expect Florida’s top pair to front pucks and deny the cross-seam.

• Sam Reinhart’s net-front craft vs Vegas’ interior D: Reinhart’s hands below the hashmarks are elite—Vegas must lift sticks and clear bodies without over-rotating.

Bench cards and adjustments to watch

• Vegas: If the rush game stalls, look for more low cycle with Stone/Eichel running delay entries and a point shot focus for tips. A third-line deployment against Florida’s second pair could be a stealth mismatch.

• Florida: Short-shift the top six after icings to chase matchups; activate Ekblad on the weak side to overload below the dots. If they trail, expect a heavier net-front presence and a green light for defensemen to walk the blue line.

Prediction and game script

Expect a measured first period, then a special-teams swing to open things up. With both goalies capable of stealing stretches, the margin sits at one bounce either way.

Prediction: Golden Knights 3, Panthers 2
Likely script: Vegas nicks a power-play goal, Florida responds off the forecheck, and a third-period tip decides it with under eight minutes left.