Defending Champs Looking Mighty Sus Right Now

A Saturday that featured 13 games on the docket also saw three teams with a chance to get into the playoffs. One said team, the Tampa Bay Lightning, punched their ticket when the Rangers were shutout by the Devils. That game also helped one scenario belonging to Tampa's in-state rivals, the Florida Panthers. Even so, the Panthers had the "win and in" scenario, but the Rangers' loss allowed the Panthers the privilege of getting in by simply reaching overtime. However, the Panthers were blanked by the Ottawa Senators. They still had one way in, but they would need help. That help came in the form of the Toronto Maple Leafs blanking the Columbus Blue Jackets.

So with the Jackets and Rangers losses, the Panthers have now earned the right to defend their title. This is their sixth playoff appearance; they have reached the playoffs every year in this decade, beginning with the two COVID-affected seasons. Even so, the Panthers still had that long drought: no playoff series wins since the 1996 Eastern Conference Final. That drought finally ended in 2022, when the Panthers--winners of the Presidents' Trophy--ousted the Washington Capitals, but they ended up swept by the Tampa Bay Lightning in Round 2.

A year later, the Panthers were the ultimate #16 seed in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, and they ousted a 65-win, 135-point Boston Bruins team in Round 1. That improbable and imposslbe upset ended up turning into a run to the Stanley Cup Final, but they fell short against the Vegas Golden Knights. Of course, last year was the year. A 16-8 run, resulting in the franchise's first Stanley Cup. And here they are, the reigning, defending Stanley Cup Champions, part of this year's Sweet 16.

Notice I didn't say "reigning, defending, and undisputed." Yeah, about that.

I've said for a while now that the Panthers are fraudulent. They've been proving me right. "But they're the defending champions," you say. Let's look at that run, shall we? They beat a Lightning team that was out of gas (Atlantic Semifinal), they beat Boston (again), because everybody does (Atlantic Final), they needed the refs to help them against the Rangers (East Final), and they beat the Oilers (Cup Final)--nuff said. Never mind the fact that they almost blew a 3-0 series lead in that Cup Final.

Look at this year's Panthers, especially lately. Following their six-game winning streak, the Panthers are 4-6-1 in their last 11 games. "But wait! Matthew Tkachuk and Sasha Barkov are out!" they keep saying. You know, it really bothers me when fans of fraudulent teams think they have a right to make the injury excuse, yet if a shorthanded Avs or Leafs team ever went on said skid, those teams "just suck." BTW, the Leafs have won games without Auston Matthews this year, and the Avs beat a fully healthy Panthers team twice this season. So tell me again how this team would be so superhuman with those two healthy. Tkachuk and Barkov aren't the team's best players this season; that title belongs to Sam Reinhart, who's showing out again with 37 goals this season.

The Panthers sit at third place in the Atlantic Division, but remember, two weeks ago, they were in first place. They got surpassed in the standings by a pair of real teams, and they are now barely ahead of the Ottawa Senators in the division standings. Seriously, I dare anyone to try to tell me that this team can repeat. They are not deep. They lose to anyone, and I mean anyone. You're seriously going to tell me that this team can get by Tampa Bay? Get by Toronto? Get by Washington? Not a chance. But hey, what do I know? I did say that Boston wouldn't even reach the Conference Finals during that year they won 65 games... and I was right. Ironically, I have the Panthers to thank for that.