Florida Panthers hold morning skate on March 26 at the Baptist Health IcePlex in Fort Lauderdale. The Florida Panthers have punched their ticket to the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Thanks to the Carolina Hurricanes defeating Detroit in regulation Thursday night, Florida became one of the first four teams in the Eastern Conference to clinch their spot in the postseason. The Metropolitan Division-leading New York Rangers clinched on Tuesday and the Boston Bruins and Carolina Hurricanes also clinched Thursday. Image [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjAwNjE3OTM2NjIzMjQ4NDky/img_6014.jpg] While the Panthers did clinch, the accomplishment comes amid a rough stretch for the team in which they have lost six of their past seven games. Still, it will be nice to see that "X" in the standings next to Florida's logo. “It would have been nice to get the win and see that “X”, and we knew that that could have been a scenario,” said Panthers defenseman Aaron Ekblad. “But anytime you see that, you have to look back on the accomplishment of the year, and the accomplishment of making the playoffs is no easy task. We had a stretch here where it was extremely difficult (to make the playoffs). So the buy in to the system and the guys in this room deserve to enjoy a little bit of that credit.” Indeed, there were some extremely tough, playoff-less years for the franchise. It's remarkable to think about how far the Cats have come. Now here they are, wrapping up another playoff spot before the calendar flips to April. “It's always nice,” Panthers captain Sasha Barkov said of clinching Thursday night. “Last year it came before the last game of the season, so now we have a little breathing room here. Of course we know we have a lot a lot of work to do and we need to be better than the last few games, so we're gonna learn and move on.” This marks the fifth consecutive season that the Panthers have qualified for the postseason, extending a franchise record. Florida has seemingly improved in each of their appearances, culminating in last season’s Stanley Cup Final run. They lost to the New York Islanders during the bubble playoffs in 2020, were defeated by Tampa Bay in the first round in 2021, beat Washington but lost again to Tampa in the second round in 2022 and then last season they reached the Final before coming up three wins short of a championship. The only questions left for Florida will be where they finish in the standings and who their first-round opponent will be. After Thursday’s loss to the Islanders, the Panthers remain two points behind Boston for the top spot in the Atlantic Division, but Florida has played one less game. Florida’s next game comes up on Saturday when they host the Detroit Red Wings at Amerant Bank Arena. The pucks drops on the matinee at 12:30 p.m. LATEST STORIES FROM THE HOCKEY NEWS - FLORIDA Panthers frustrated by Islanders, officiating in 3-2 defeat on home ice [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/florida-panthers/game-day/panthers-frustrated-by-islanders-officiating-in-3-2-defeat-on-home-ice] Florida Panthers have another chance to clinch a playoff spot Thursday Night [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/florida-panthers/latest-news/florida-panthers-have-another-chance-to-clinch-a-playoff-spot-thursday-night] Aaron Ekblad returns to Florida Panthers lineup after 7-game absence [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/florida-panthers/game-day/aaron-ekblad-returns-to-florida-panthers-lineup-after-7-game-absence] Panthers prospect Spencer Knight records second straight shutout for Charlotte [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/florida-panthers/latest-news/panthers-prospect-knight-records-second-straight-shutout-for-charlotte] Panthers face Islanders looking to continue trending in right direction [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/florida-panthers/game-day/panthers-face-islanders-looking-to-continue-trending-in-right-direction] Image [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjAxNjQxMjA5NjI4NzMxMDIz/unnamed.jpg]
