Can you smell it in the air?
We’re only a little more than a month away from playoff hockey.
Entering this week riding a six-game winning streak and leading the Atlantic Division with a 40-21-3 record, the Florida Panthers are beaming with confidence as they hit the road.
“We’re prepping for playoff hockey right now,” forward Sam Bennett said. “Details have been pretty sharp the last couple games, and we’re going to keep trying to build off that.”
Not giving up and inch, the Panthers have allowed just one goal over their last four games.
Closing out last week on a high note, newcomer Vitek Vanecek stopped all 21 shots he faced during a 3-0 shutout over the Buffalo Sabres in his Panthers debut on Saturday.
In addition to Vanecek, fellow trade-deadline additions Seth Jones and Nico Sturm have also made an immediate impact with the Panthers, who are dreaming of a second Stanley Cup.
During their six-game winning streak, the Panthers lead 20-5 in goals.
“I think we’re better than before,” defenseman Gustav Forsling said of the team's post-deadline outlook. “We’ve got a lot of experience coming in, a lot of great guys. We feel ready. We’re excited to have a last push.”
With 18 games remaining, that final push towards the playoffs continues this week with four games on the road, including three straight games against teams within the division.
Kicking off their six-game trip, the Panthers will visit the rival Boston Bruins on Tuesday. After that, they’ll head to Canada to face the Toronto Maple Leafs and Montreal Canadiens on Thursday and Saturday, respectively. On Sunday, they’ll visit the New York Islanders.
From here on out, there’s no taking your foot off the gas.
“You always have that energy in your own division” head coach Paul Maurice said. “You play each other enough that the intensity is ramped up. We’ve got a whole bunch of teams that every game is what we went through two years ago – every game is life and death.”
To see what’s going on around the Territory this week and beyond, continue below.
THE GAMES
Tuesday, March 11: at Boston Bruins – 7 p.m. ET
- **TV & Streaming**: Panthers+, WSFL-TV, WHDT, WFTX, ESPN+ (out of market)
- Radio: 560 WQAM (Dade/Broward); 1230 WBZT-AM & 92.1 WZZR-FM (Palm Beach); 100.3 WCTH (Florida Keys); Panthers App; SiriusXM App & Streaming 931
- Cats on Tap: Click Here
Thursday, March 13: at Toronto Maple Leafs – 7 p.m. ET
- **TV & Streaming**: Panthers+, WSFL-TV, WHDT, WFTX, ESPN+ (out of market)
- Radio: 560 WQAM (Dade/Broward); 1230 WBZT-AM & 1 WZZR-FM (Palm Beach); 100.3 WCTH (Florida Keys); Panthers App; SiriusXM App & Streaming 931
- Cats on Tap: Click Here
Saturday, March 15: at Montreal Canadiens – 7 p.m. ET
- **TV & Streaming**: Panthers+, WSFL-TV, WHDT, WFTX, ESPN+ (out of market)
- Radio: 790 WAXY (Dade/Broward); 1230 WBZT-AM & 1 WZZR-FM (Palm Beach); 100.3 WCTH (Florida Keys); Panthers App; SiriusXM App & Streaming 931
- Cats on Tap: Click Here
Sunday, March 16: at New York Islanders – 7:30 p.m. ET
- **TV & Streaming**: Panthers+, WSFL-TV, WHDT, WFTX, ESPN+ (out of market)
- Radio: 560 WQAM (Dade/Broward); 1230 WBZT-AM & 1 WZZR-FM (Palm Beach); 100.3 WCTH (Florida Keys); Panthers App; SiriusXM App & Streaming 931
- Cats on Tap: Click Here
MARCHAND IN THE MIX
After coming over from the Boston Bruins a surprise trade prior to Friday’s deadline, Brad Marchand met with the media for the first time as a Panther following Monday’s practice at Baptist Health IcePlex.
“It has been a whirlwind here the last few days,” Marchand said. “Obviously, it’s sad to leave a place that I look at as home. I have a lot of great memories in Boston and a ton of incredible years there, but it’s extremely exciting to be part of such an incredible group. I literally had flashbacks to back in the year that we won and some of the groups that we’ve had over the years that I looked at as an incredible chemistry and incredible culture.”
Spending his entire 16-year career in Boston, Marchand produced 976 points (42 goals, 976 assists), a plus-284 rating and 1,113 penalty minutes in 1,090 career NHL games.
Prior to being traded, he ranked second on the Bruins with 47 points this season.
A Stanley Cup champion in 2011, Marchand now hopes to hoist the Cup again in Florida.
“I mean, ultimately, we chase the Stanley Cup, and you want a chance to play for that every single year,” Marchand said. “To be able to be part of a great team, a team that has that opportunity again this year, I’m very grateful.”
To watch Marchand’s full press conference, check out the vide below.
