For simply the sixth time in franchise historical past, the Florida Panthers are a playoff staff. Which isn’t an achievement many predicted for them previous to this NHL season.
“We knew what sort of character we had within the room. What sort of gamers we had been. That is simply outdoors noise we did not must hearken to,” stated ahead Frank Vatrano, who had the game-winning objective in Florida’s 7-4 win over the Nashville Predators on Tuesday, sealing the postseason berth. “We did not hearken to that stuff originally of the season. And now we’re within the playoffs.”
Florida final made the Stanley Cup playoffs in 2016, shedding within the first spherical to the New York Islanders. The Panthers have not gained a playoff collection since 1995-96, once they superior to the Stanley Cup Remaining earlier than shedding to Colorado. Since getting into the NHL as an enlargement staff in 1993-94, the Panthers have made solely six playoff appearances — not counting their qualification-round loss to the Islanders in final summer time’s expanded postseason in Toronto.
Coach Joel Quenneville stated that the low expectations for the Panthers labored of their favor.
“There’s nothing flawed with being the underdog. There’s nothing flawed if you’re up towards it and no one offers you the time of day. There’s nothing flawed if you’re underappreciated, and perhaps some nights the opposite staff shouldn’t be as excited enjoying that recreation. However we did what we needed to do,” he stated. “We get loads of respect [from other teams] as a result of we play laborious. It is a laborious two factors. That is a praise to our staff. All people in our division thinks we’re able to play.”
The Panthers entered the sport towards the host Predators needing a win to clinch a playoff spot within the Central Division. They rallied thrice to defeat Nashville, as ahead Jonathan Huberdeau had two targets and three assists. Rookie goalie Spencer Knight stopped all 9 pictures he confronted after changing starter Sergei Bobrovsky (4 targets on 21 pictures) to start the third interval.
Florida is second within the division with 69 factors, two factors in again of first-place Carolina, which has two video games in hand.
“It is nice, particularly with all of the sacrifice we made this season. With how powerful it has been,” Vatrano stated. “You spend much more time across the rink than you often do. You are available in each day, across the guys on a regular basis. You might get sick of one another generally, nevertheless it actually introduced us collectively.”
The Panthers are in line to face the Tampa Bay Lightning within the opening spherical, in what can be the primary playoff assembly ever between the Florida groups.