Dead no more, Florida Panthers could ride late-season surge all the way into playoffs
By C.L. Kohuss
The Florida Panthers have been on fire lately, which could mean terrible things for the rest of the NHL’s Eastern Conference.
On Jan. 25, the Florida Panthers dropped a 4-2 decision to the Washington Capitals. The proverbial wheels/paws seemed mired in quicksand. Every effort and every game pulled them further below the surface, further down the standings — closer to the cellar than to mediocrity.
It was quite a fall, one that began last season after head coach Gerard Gallant was fired 22 games into a middling campaign (they were hovering next to .500 at the time). A fall that seemed somewhat improbable, even. Just the year before, Gallant had led this same upstart Panthers club to 103 points and first place in the Atlantic Division.
We could likely dwell for hours on the lunacy of firing Gallant 22 games after being the Jack Adams award runner-up. Considering that he’s currently dusting his mantelpiece to make room for the trophy this year (those Vegas Golden Knights are an absolute show), we could probably write that piece and it would get a lot of nods of agreement.
Through the first 47 games of this 2017-18 season, it certainly seemed a mammoth mistake. The Panthers were at 19 wins and searching for answers that didn’t seem to be coming. But then, after another disparaging loss to the Caps on Jan. 25, something changed.
The Florida Panthers woke up and decided they didn’t want to sit at home during the prom. And now, led by head coach Bob “Boogieman” Boughner, this team has combed its hair and is stomping through squads like they’re grapes at a winery.
It started on Jan. 30. After losing three straight, Florida went into New York and found a way to win, a 4-1 victory that you could safely assume would be followed by three or four more losses in a row. Ho-hum, another gruesome Panthers year in the books.
You’d have assumed quite wrong. Two nights later, Florida went into Buffalo and came away on the good side of a 4-2 contest. Then…the Panthers just kept doing that. Game after game.
Eventually, mid-March came around and the Florida Panthers had gone 13-3, including six straight wins over the Capitals, Penguins, Maple Leafs, Devils, Sabres and Flyers. Five of those teams are vying for playoff spots.
They now reside a mere four points back of the Blue Jackets for the second wild card, and three back of New Jersey. They also have games in-hand on both of those teams. After shutting down the Bruins on Thursday, the Panthers have gone 16-5 in the previous month and a half.
It’s like they fell in love with winning once February started. They fell so much in love with it that they’re now threatening to do some real damage. That is, should they get in.
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How much damage could be done? Well, they have 14 games left and they may likely draw Tampa Bay in round one. That for anyone is going to be a nightmare. But this is good for hockey. It’s certainly great for Panthers fans, who have to be pinching themselves at this point. And hopefully buying some extra seat belts. This is going to be fun.