Panthers Prepared for Biggest Game of the Season vs the Capitals

Just two points ahead and with a game in hand, the Washington Capitals (28-22-6) lead for the final Wild Card spot is finally within reach for the Florida Panthers (27-24-6).

With a win against the Capitals tonight, the Panthers will be positioned in a tie for the Eastern Conference’s final playoff spot.

A feat that seemed improbable just over a month ago now sits in the crosshairs for a surging Panthers team.

Playoffs in Sight for Surging Panthers

Back on January 13, the Panthers had a 25.1% chance to make the playoffs. Definitely not a number Panthers fans expected to see after the regular season success they had the previous season.

Playoff odds as of Friday https://t.co/2nMPy5I9mv pic.twitter.com/d4sxmHTrnm

— MoneyPuck.com (@MoneyPuckdotcom) January 13, 2023

But after an innumerable amount of injuries and many key players leaving or being dealt during the offseason, fans seemed to have accepted their fate of missing the playoffs.

The Panthers, however, were not ready to give up.

Head coach Paul Maurice has stood firm all year in his approach to coaching this team. The 24-year coaching veteran knew the system he implemented would eventually ‘turn a profit’ so to speak. On January 17 he was quoted as saying, “Our analytics are way better than our record.” 

Maurice has always been confident in his team and the direction they were trending. The Panthers just needed to stay the course and keep their belief in the dressing room.

Since that quote about the team’s record, the Panthers have compiled a 6-4-2 record. Maybe not a show-stopper number but considering they achieved this during their toughest stretch of schedule to date, it’s pretty impressive.

Nine of their 12 games were against playoff teams and the 12-game stretch also included four sets of back-to-backs.

Adversity would be the word to describe the Panthers’ season so far. But they’ve shown they are a club that can handle it. 

Their perseverance and determination are on the verge of being rewarded by being in a playoff spot; a place they’ve felt they have belonged all this time.

Capitals Moving in the Wrong Direction

The Capitals however have been trending in the opposite direction in their pursuit of a playoff spot.

Less than a month ago the Caps had an 84% chance of making the playoffs. Today, that number has crashed to 38.3%

A team that looked like a lock for its ninth straight trip to the postseason, is now in serious jeopardy.

And with superstar forward and team captain, Alex Ovechkin, unfortunately away from the team due to the passing of his father, the team must navigate these waters without one of the game’s greatest competitors.

Players Well Aware of the Magnitude of Tonight’s Game

But no matter who is in the lineup for tonight’s bout, the players are well aware of the stakes. 

Tonight is must-win hockey. 

Panthers veteran defenceman, Aaron Ekblad, expressed his awareness of the situation ahead of tonight’s game saying, “No matter who’s in the lineup for them…It’s going to be a tough competition no matter what they throw at us, and we’re ready for anything.”

Fellow defenceman, Radko Gudas, echoed that sentiment, saying tonight is “the biggest game of the season, for sure. It comes down to these games, these conference games that mean a lot. I think everybody’s going to look forward to that. A game with a lot of meaning is always fun to play.”

Playoff Race Will Be a Battle to the End

A win tonight will have the Panthers in a playoff spot for the first time since November 16 of this season.

Obviously, their work is nowhere to being done just yet. But with 25 games left on the schedule, the Panthers will be in the driver’s seat for their home stretch.

Tonight marks the team’s second of three meetings this season. The Cats won their first bout 5-2 at home back on November 15. 

The final meeting between the two clubs is on April 8th, the Cats’ third last game of the season. And that game will most certainly have grave implications for the loser. 

Hang on to your hats folks, the Eastern Conference playoff race is heating up!