Don't look now, but the Florida Panthers are closing in on an Eastern Conference playoff spot.
Despite losing seven of nine games heading into the All-Star break, Florida finds itself in serious contention for one of the two Eastern Conference wild-card spots, winning six in a row and 13 of 16 since the break.
The @FlaPanthers earned their sixth consecutive victory, the fifth-longest win streak in franchise history. #NHLStats #PHIvsFLA pic.twitter.com/RYjsOgcRVt
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) March 4, 2018
While the Panthers are firing on all cylinders up and down the lineup, a lot of their recent success can be attributed to the resurgence of a finally-healthy No.1 starter in Roberto Luongo, who has been simply sensational over his last five starts. Bobby Lu posted a 5-0 record to go with a save percentage of .934 in those contests, all against teams currently holding a playoff spot in the East.
As of Sunday night, the Panthers sit one point up on the Carolina Hurricanes and one-point back of the Columbus Blue Jackets with three games in hand on each club.
