The Florida Panthers finished so strongly that many of the NHL pundits slotted the Cats into the playoffs predicting them to finish in the 3rd or 4th spot in the Atlantic Division with a chance to advance to the second round of the playoffs for the first time since the Panthers’ run to the Cup in 1996.
However, for those taking a realistic and close look at what led to the Panthers success, there was also a reason for caution. The Panthers run was fueled by 5 or 6 players who played unsustainable minutes each night.