The Florida Panthers are starting to make believers out of the staunchest of critics.
The Panthers are not used to winning 12 games in a row as they did from December 15th-January 10th. But they are used to slumping badly in mid to late January.
It looked like this year would be no different, spoiling all the good effort displayed during the streak.
After a crazy post-New Year road schedule, Florida played relatively uninspired hockey for 3 straight games after their streak stopped in Vancouver. That culminated with an unacceptable loss last Monday to Edmonton to start a 4-game home stand.
The silver lining was they had 3 days off before their next game against the Blackhawks.
It seems like that was just what they needed to recharge the batteries.
Even though they were getting Chicago on a back to back as well as Scott Darlington in net, it wasn’t even close on their way to a 4-0 Panthers victory.
The red-hot Lightning had won 7 in a row and were only 3 points back of the Panthers for top spot in the Atlantic division.
While one would think it would be the Panthers who would be fatigued after playing the night before, it didn’t look like it.
The Panthers once again destroyed one of the hottest teams in the league 5-2. Even Roberto Luongo felt good enough to play in both games.
He has been playing out of his mind this season, and it was never more evident than this weekend while stopping 65 of 67 shots.
The Maple Leafs visit Sunrise Tuesday for the last game before the All Star break.
After the Tampa game some members of the South Florida media who are generally very skeptical and hard on the Panthers were calling them Cup contenders.
The two sellout crowds saw a young, resilient team that was not going to repeat the January pattern that has killed many chances at the playoffs.
These Cats are different, and now have a 5-point cushion in the division.
It would be hard to find who is more surprised about where the Panthers currently sit in the standings. Even GM Dale Tallon has to be pinching himself on how things have come together.
But here we are and the entire Atlantic is chasing the Panthers.
Will it last?
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