Preseason games at home? Just two

Headlined by two neutral-site games, a doubleheader and a three-contest set against their state rival, the 2019-20 preseason schedule for the Florida Panthers has been finalized.

Out of eight preseason games, only two will be played at the BB&T Center.

The Panthers will open the preseason with their annual doubleheader against the Nashville Predators on Sept. 16 at Bridgestone Arena.

After the doubleheader, the Panthers will continue their trip with two contests against the Montreal Canadiens on Sept. 18 in Renous, New Brunswick and Sept. 19 at the Bell Centre.

The teams’ matchup on Sept. 18 will be part of the NHL’s Kraft Hockeyville event which helps raise money for local ice hockey rinks to receive necessary upgrades and renovations.

After the two-game set with Montreal, Florida will close out the trip against the Dallas Stars on Sept. 21 at the BOK Center in Tulsa, Okla. The contest will mark the second preseason in a row the Panthers and Stars have played at the BOK Center.

To close out the preseason, the Panthers and the Tampa Bay Lightning will square off against one another three consecutive times.

The state rivals will begin the three-game stretch with two meetings at the BB&T Center on Sept. 24 and Sept. 26.

Tampa Bay will host the final preseason game on Sept. 28 at the Amalie Arena.

PRESEASON SCHEDULE

Sept. 16: Florida at Nashville, 4:30 p.m.; 16: Florida at Nashville, 8 p.m.; 18: Florida vs. Montreal, TBD (Renous, New Brunswick); 19: Florida at Montreal, 7 p.m.; 21: Florida vs. Dallas, 8 p.m. (Tulsa, Oklahoma); 24: Tampa Bay at Florida, 7 p.m.; 26: Tampa Bay at Florida, 7 p.m.; 28: Florida at Tampa Bay, 7 p.m.