Panthers Clinch Sixth-Consecutive Playoff Berth

The Florida Panthers will get the chance to keep the Stanley Cup in Sunrise after punching its ticket to the Stanley Cup Playoffs for a sixth-consecutive season.

Despite losing their past four games — with the most recent being a 3-0 defeat Saturday afternoon in Ottawa —  a few out of town results allowed the Panthers to officially clinch a spot in the playoffs.

On top of making the postseason for six straight seasons (beginning in 2019-20 season), this is the 11th time in franchise history the Panthers have qualified for the playoffs.

With six games remaining in the regular season, the Panthers sit third in the Atlantic Division with 92 points. The Toronto Maple Leafs are six points (98 points) clear of the Panthers for the division lead.

As the standings are now, the Panthers would begin the first-round on the road in Tampa against the Lightning. Florida knocked out their cross-state rivals in five games last season in the opening round.

While their spot in the postseason is now assured, there’s still plenty to play for in the final six games of the season, especially since the Ottawa Senators are creeping up in the standings, now sitting just four points behind the Panthers (88 points) from their spot in wild-card 1.

While the Maple Leafs seem to be closing in on the Atlantic Division title, the Panthers still have a game against them (April 8) and the second place Lightning (April 15) respectively before the playoffs start.