Its first opponents are the defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers, who come to town Wednesday. Florida is anything but easy to play against. It has elite offensive talent, some of the consensus best two-way forwards in the world,

The Utah Hockey Club continues to struggle at home, losing its fourth straight game at the Delta Center Wednesday night to the defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers, 4-1. Jesper Boqvist scored twice for Florida as Utah opened a season-long 7-game homestand with a loss.

The NHL announced Wednesday that the Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers will play host to the New York Rangers at loanDepot Park in Miami — home of baseball’s Marlins — on Jan. 2, 2026, in the Winter Classic, with the Tampa Bay Lightning playing host to the Boston Bruins at Raymond James Stadium on Feb. 1, 2026, in a Stadium Series game.

Watch the Game Highlights from Utah Hockey Club vs. Florida Panthers, 01/08/2025. Home; NFL; NCAAF; NBA; Daily Draw; NHL; Fantasy Football; NCAAB; NCAAW; MLB; Soccer; Tennis; Golf

All things considered, though, the Utah Hockey Club performed at an elite level on Wednesday, despite losing 4-1 to the Florida Panthers (It was a 2-1 game with two empty-net goals). Utah kept up on both ends of the ice,