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FHN Today: Blue Jackets Still Alive, Panthers Playoff Scenarios
The Columbus Blue Jackets are still fighting for a playoff spot, the Florida Panthers sort of know who they should be playing in Round 1, and a disgruntled New York Rangers player says his team ain’t treating him right.
What else happened on Sunday?
Speaking of golf, the Blue Jackets are keeping their tee times on hold for now after they beat the Capitals for a second straight day — this time in Washington.
Columbus is still one of the best stories in the game this season for all that team has been through, and the Jackets are fighting to the end winning four straight elimination games thus far.
Two more points from Montreal, however, in its final two games and the Canadiens will clinch the final spot in the Eastern Conference. The Jackets have to win their final two games to have a chance.
As far as the Panthers go, they already have a playoff spot and will be one of the top 3 seeds in the Atlantic Division and will likely play Tampa Bay.
Florida can still catch the Lightning for home ice advantage but need to finish with one more point than Tampa Bay. The two play each other Tuesday night in Tampa.
The Lightning, meanwhile, still have a chance at catching the Maple Leafs, who beat the Canadiens 1-0 in OT on Saturday, for the top spot in the Atlantic.
The Calgary Panthers with Jonathan Huberdeau, MacKenzie Weegar, and Ryan Lomberg, are also still in the hunt for a playoff spot.
After beating the San Jose Sharks on Sunday, the Flames can still grab a spot from either the Wild or Blues.
Calgary has two games left and 92 points; the Blues (94) and Wild (95) have one game remaining.
The Flames play host to the Pacific champion Golden Knights on Tuesday, then visit the Kings on Thursday.
FLORIDA HOCKEY NOW
- The Panthers have now won three straight after beating the Sabres in a shootout. The Rangers are in town to close out the regular season home slate tonight.
- Speaking of the Rangers … they’re a mess. From the Presidents’ Trophy and the Eastern Conference finals to this? Tonight’s game should have been a marquee matchup, but it’s not. The Rangers are to blame for that.
- Vitek Vanecek had a couple of tough-luck losses for the Panthers — what happened in Montreal was rough — but he was really good on Saturday.
- Uvis Balinskis had another strong game, this one coming in No. 100.
- Paul Maurice said the Panthers expect Matthew Tkachuk to return to practice this week.
- The Panthers signed Jack Devine after his terrific collegiate career came to a close. He will start in Charlotte, his ELC starting next season.
- Subscribe to the FHN YouTube channel to hear from the Florida Panthers before and after games. Saturday featured Maurice, Balinskis, Ekblad, Carter Verhaeghe, and Vitek Vanecek. More later today — and tonight.
NHL NEWS, NOTES
- The Pittsburgh Penguins sleepwalked through a miserable loss to the Bruins, with coach Mike Sullivan ripping them for the, you know, effort.
- On the flip side, the road has not been kind to the Boston Bruins, so it was nice to end it with a win.
- The New York Islanders may be eliminated, but they showed a little something by shutting out the Devils.
- Paul Cotter of the New Jersey Devils could be facing a suspension after an illegal check to Adam Pelech.
- The Vegas Golden Knights took it to Nashville on Saturday night.
- The Detroit Red Wings will miss the playoffs for the ninth straight season.
- Calvin de Haan is not happy with how he has been treated by the Rangers, and let off some steam by dropping an F-bomb to reporters before practice. After agreeing to talk about it all afterward, the team’s PR staff apparently intervened and he did not speak.
ON DECK: GAME No. 81
NEW YORK RANGERS at FLORIDA PANTHERS
- When: Monday, 7 p.m.
- Where: Amerant Bank Arena, Sunrise
- Local TV: Scripps Sports — WSFL 39 (Miami/FtL); WHDT 9 (WPB); LAFF 36.3 (Naples/FtM)
- Streaming: Panthers+, ESPN+
- Radio: WPOW 96.5-FM2; WBZT 1230-AM (Palm Beach); WCTH 100.3-FM (Florida Keys); SiriusXM
- Panthers Radio Streaming: SiriusXM 932, NHL App
- Last Season vs. Rangers — Regular Season: Panthers won 2-1; Eastern Conference Finals: Panthers won 4-2.
- This Season (Panthers Lead 2-0) — At Florida: Panthers 5, Rangers 3 (Dec. 30); Monday. At MSG: Panthers 3, Rangers 1 (Oct. 24).
- All-time Regular Season Series: Rangers lead 61-36-8, 6 ties
- Postseason History: Rangers won 4-1 (1997, 1st round); Panthers won 4-2 (2024 ECF)
- Up Next for the Panthers — Regular Season Finale: Tuesday at Tampa Bay Lightning, 7:30 p.m. (ESPN/Local TV)
For more Florida Panthers news and analysis, visit Florida Hockey Now throughout the day
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