Rested And Ready, Florida Panthers Look To Secure Playoff Spot In Final 15 Games

As the NHL regular season enters its final stretch, the Florida Panthers find themselves in a position of control over their playoff destiny.

With just 15 games remaining in the season, the Panthers have officially entered their most important stretch of games. And coming out on the ice well-rested, they’re visibly determined to continue their winning ways and secure a spot in the postseason.

“We know we have a really good chance to make it [to the playoffs],” remarked Aleksander Barkov after Wednesday’s practice.

“We’re playing really well right now, doing the right things on the ice. We just have to keep going.”

The Panthers certainly are playing well as of late.

After an up-and-down start to the season, the Panthers have been remarkably consistent over the past two and a half months. 

Since the start of the new year, the Cats have only one losing streak, a three-game slide back in January. That streak also accounts for their only set of back-to-back losses in 2023. 

And the biggest factor of this newfound consistency is that this roster is finally healthy. 

“Once we got healthy, everyone started to feel comfortable in the roles they’re given and with the opportunities they have,” noted Eric Staal.

“When you have everyone contributing collectively, you’re going to end up with good results.”

And good results they have had.

Since their last losing streak in January, the Panthers have a record of 10-5-1.

Panthers Now Reaping Benefits of Busy First Half to Season

The Cats had one of the busiest schedules in the league which was loaded with long road trips.

But the plus side of that grueling schedule was that relief would eventually have to come.

And that’s where the Panthers are now. 

The Cats have played just three games in the last 12 days. They are fully rested and are now the team with games in hand as they get ready for this final stretch.

“We’re at the point in the season where the standings are something you look at daily,” said the veteran Staal. 

“You take advantage of days like this to recover properly, but also put the work in. We’re looking forward to preparing for the rest of the homestand.”

The Panthers have two games left in their current seven-game homestand. And eight of their final 15 games are at home, where they are 19-10-4 this season.

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Final Wild Card Spot Now a Three-Horse Race

Just two weeks ago, the Panthers had five teams to leapfrog in the standings to get a Wild Card spot.

That number is down to one.

The Pittsburgh Penguins are in control of the first wild card spot but the final one is down to a three-horse race.

But based off points percentage and games remaining, the last wild card spot is officially the Panthers’ to lose.

The Cats sit five points out of the final playoff spot, currently held by the New York Islanders, but Florida has three games in hand.

Of the three teams vying for that final wild card spot, the Buffalo Sabres have the hardest strength of schedule remaining, followed by the Panthers, and then the Islanders.

Florida still has a game remaining against the Sabres and Penguins, so that bodes well in both creating separation and catching up to their opponents, respectively. 

The Final Push Starts Now

It has been a grind getting to this point of the season for the Panthers. But after all the adversity they’ve been through, it is a testament to the character and depth of this team that they are in control of their playoff destiny.

The final push begins tonight for the Cats when they take on the Montreal Canadiens at FLA Live Arena.