SUNRISE — The Florida Panthers have taken 2024 by storm as they rolled previous the midseason mark on a nine-game successful streak following Thursday’s electrifying 3-2 extra time win in opposition to the Los Angeles Kings in No. 41 of their marketing campaign.
With the Panthers bringing such tidings of excellent cheer, it is a superb time to look again at the place they had been a yr in the past — and the way a lot better issues are nowadays.
This yr’s version of the Florida Panthers appears to be like like an absolute lock for a playoff spot.
After Thursday’s motion, Florida is fourth within the NHL in successful share and second within the Eastern Conference behind Boston.
This time final yr?
Talk of Florida being within the postseason appeared like a dumb dialog to have.
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Despite early season accidents and a bunch of personnel adjustments, these Panthers are on a 112-point tempo — far forward of final season’s last tally of 92 factors and a last-minute playoff berth.
On Tuesday, the Panthers received in St. Louis for his or her eighth-straight victory. Eight of the 20 who dressed had been new to the crew.
That quantity was larger within the opening two months when Aaron Ekblad, Brandon Montour, and Sam Bennett had been injured.
Last season’s run to the Stanley Cup Final was nothing in need of breathtaking.
It is simple to miss that the Panthers slipped right into a playoff spot over the last week of the season.
They had been the beneficiaries of an ideal storm of occasions, a few of which they helped dictate.
Only, had Pittsburgh not been shocked by Chicago in its penultimate sport and had the Panthers not stolen 4 factors on the late sport and extra time heroics in opposition to Toronto and Boston, final season’s historical past can be lots completely different.
No one desires to once more depend upon a late-season sizzling streak and a third-string goalie (hey, Alex Lyon!) to get the Panthers into the playoffs.
Based on Florida’s first-half efficiency, it in all probability won’t need to.
After 41 video games final season, the Panthers had been 18-19-4 (.488 level share), fifth within the Atlantic Division and 9 factors out of a Wild Card playoff position — with two groups between them and the ultimate spot within the Eastern Conference.
The objective differential was minus-8.
Seriously.
After 41 video games on this one, Florida is a sturdy 27-12-2 (.683) and only a level behind Boston within the Atlantic Division — and convention — standings.
The Panthers’ goal-differential is plus-29.
Seriously.
According to MoneyPuck.com, the Panthers have a 99.4 p.c probability of constructing the playoffs this yr.
Before this win streak, issues didn’t look nice, as Florida misplaced 4 of 5.
Whatever was occurring then just isn’t occurring now, with the Panthers dominating their opponents over the previous 9 video games by outscoring them 39-17.
The most important individual change from final season belongs to Sam Reinhart, who, with 30 objectives and 52 factors, is having a career-year (and contract-year) tempo.
Last season, after 41 video games, he had 12 objectives and 26 factors.
Matthew Tkachuk began slowly this yr in comparison with final season, when he had 20 objectives and 49 factors.
He has, nonetheless, been on fireplace.
Tkachuk has 12 objectives and 39 factors, highlighted by seven objectives and 16 factors up to now seven video games.
Tkachuk has been having fun with all of it, as have his teammates.
“This streak has been superior,’’ he mentioned. “It actually has, and I simply really feel like we hold getting higher all through it. It’s been a couple of weeks now, courting again to earlier than Christmas. It’s sort of been longer than that.
“When you win, it’s always a good mood when you come to the rink, especially when you’re playing the way we are right now.”
Goaltending has been one other sturdy level after it was a puzzle by the primary half of final season.
Sergei Bobrovsky was 9-12-1 on the midpoint with a 3.26 GAA and a .895 save share. He is 22-9-1 now, with a 2.42/.913.
Last season, Spencer Knight struggled, at occasions, because the backup. But Bobrovsky struggled. So did Lyon.
While Knight is regaining his type within the AHL this yr, veteran Anthony Stolarz has a formidable 1.95/.923.
After the Colorado win, which put the win streak at seven, coach Paul Maurice remarked, “We are a pretty good defensive team.”
Understatement?
The Panthers have the third-lowest goals-against common within the league.
He significantly praised the goaltending.
“Our goaltending has been very strong. We haven’t requested Sergei or Anthony to be the entire story of the sport, however they needed to make massive saves. That’s simply pure within the NHL. We’ve received fairly good protection scoring. Our energy play has come again.
“There are five components to a National Hockey League game. Goaltending is one. Your offensive and defensive games, then power play and penalty kill. They’ve all been pretty darn solid. We haven’t had to hang our hat on any one thing.”
The energy play numbers of a yr in the past are just like now, and the PK success fee is decrease attributable to a gradual begin however quickly bettering.
During the nine-game win streak, the Panthers killed 25 of 28 penalties.
The season nonetheless has a protracted approach to go.
If the primary half is an indicator, the time period ‘Cardiac Cats’ is probably not heard round these elements within the second half.
However, it was welcomed on Thursday because the Cardiac Cats had been again — and their successful streak rolled on into the second half of what appears to be like like a really fascinating season.
ON DECK
NEW JERSEY DEVILS @ FLORIDA PANTHERS
- When: Saturday, 6 p.m.
- Where: Amerant Bank Arena, Sunrise
- TV/Streaming: Bally Sports Florida; ESPN+
- Radio: WQAM 560-AM; WPOW 96.5-FM 2;WBZT 1230-AM (West Palm Beach); WCTH 100.3-FM (Florida Keys); WCZR 101.7-FM (Treasure Coast); SiriusXM
- Panthers Radio Streaming: SiriusXM 932, NHL app
- Season Series (Florida leads 1-0) — At New Jersey: Panthers 4, Devils 3 (Oct. 16); March 15. At Florida:Saturday.
- Last Season: Florida received 2-1
- All-time Regular Season Series: Devils lead 57-36-7, 7 ties
- Up Next for the Panthers: Monday vs. Anaheim, 1 p.m.
