Luca Cagnoni only needed one chance in overtime to make it count. The 21-year-old defenseman buried the game-winner and his first NHL goal 3:14 into overtime Thursday, giving the San Jose Sharks a season-opening win over the Florida Panthers at SAP Center.
The Sharks have been searching for connection these last few seasons. Now, after a real NHL test in their home opener, the team has found a steady rhythm — against a multi-time Stanley Cup-winning team. San Jose bested the Florida Panthers 4-3 in a physical battle that showed the Sharks have strength in numbers. It showed throughout the roster — with goals from Mason Marchment, Will Smith, and Cagnoni; behind them, playoff-experienced guys like Jacob Trouba and Darnell Nurse — the team has more depth than it has had in years.
“Everyone’s a leader,” Celebrini said. “That’s our message to everyone: everyone chips in and does what they need to do for us.”
The newly named captain heads into the 2026–27 season focused on that team effort. When things get difficult, the Sharks stay composed. They can keep executing even in high-pressure moments against high-caliber teams. That’s the backbone San Jose will need to get through another season.
San Jose controlled the opening half, taking a 3-0 lead before Florida found its way back in the third period. The Panthers scored three times in just over five minutes to erase the deficit and force overtime.
The Sharks answered in the extra frame. Will Smith carried the puck into the zone before finding Luca Cagnoni, who finished from the left circle for his first NHL goal. Yaroslav Askarov made 23 saves in his season debut, while the Sharks also blocked 21 shots and held Florida to one power-play goal on six opportunities.
For Cagnoni, the moment marked a memorable first NHL goal. For San Jose, it turned a game that slipped away in the third period into a win to open the season.
“It’s good that we’re feeling that,” Cagnoni said. “And that we were able to come back and not just crumble.”
Head coach Ryan Warsofsky was satisfied with his team’s identity. He was proud of the team’s ability to battle through adversity, one of his main focuses over the summer. The win showed the team could play its intended fast, physical style and close out a game against an experienced Florida team.
“We wanted to show our identity, ” Head coach Ryan Warsofsky said. “I thought we did that more often tonight than we probably have in the last couple years.”
The win also gave San Jose an early look at what its new identity can become. Against a team with championship experience, the Sharks did not let the game slip away after Florida erased the three-goal lead. They kept pushing, stayed engaged, and found the winning play when it mattered most. For a team coming off a season in which it stayed in the playoff race until the final stretch, the ability to respond in moments like these could become an important part of its next step.
“We just got to keep playing, and that’s really been the message,” Warsofsky said.
The season is still just beginning, but against a team with championship experience, the Sharks showed they can stay together, stay composed and find a way forward. Now, they will look to carry that rhythm into the rest of the season.
