Throughout most of the season, the Florida Panthers found themselves near the bottom of the Atlantic Division standings, although the points gap was not very large. Recently, however, their improved and more consistent play has brought them back into contention, currently sitting just four points behind the division leaders, the Detroit Red Wings, with two games left to play.
There is still one team separating the Panthers from the Red Wings. The Boston Bruins hold second place with 26 points, three ahead of Florida, but the Panthers have three games remaining. The Tampa Bay Lightning and Ottawa Senators each have one point more than the Panthers and have played the same number of games.
The Montreal Canadiens are level with the Panthers at 23 points, while the Toronto Maple Leafs trail by two points. The Buffalo Sabers are at the bottom of the Atlantic Division with 20 points. The division standings are very close, with significant changes over roughly the first 20 games, but the Panthers’ experience could help them capitalize on these shifting opportunities.
Looking ahead to the playoffs, the Panthers face a slate of games against teams outside their division and are poised to make a push. Their schedule begins tonight with a rematch against the Edmonton Oilers, followed by matches versus the Nashville Predators, Philadelphia Flyers, Calgary Flames, Maple Leafs, another game against the Predators, and the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Tonight’s game features the Panthers hosting Connor McDavid and the Oilers, with Sergei Bobrovsky expected to dress for the Panthers.
Fan Take: This resurgence by the Panthers is thrilling for hockey fans, as it injects fresh excitement into a tightly contested division race. If the Panthers continue this momentum, it could lead to some electrifying playoff matchups that showcase the depth and competitiveness of the sport.
