It's not how you start, it's how you finish.
But when it comes to the Florida Panthers, it's both.
The NHL's South Florida representatives were No. 1 in the B/R Power Rankings after the initial week of the 2021-22 regular season back in October and they finished in the same place at season's end—sweeping the five first-place ballots to head into the playoffs atop the 32-team list.
It's the second straight week in first place for the Panthers, who climbed from second to first last week to end the Colorado Avalanche's 13-week stay at No.