CBS 4’s Steve Goldstein: Can Panthers remain alive in playoff race?

FORT LAUDERDALE — It took far more than 3-quarters of the time but the Panthers eventually played a recreation with their complete roster.

The result was a season saving, stable 4-1 household earn in excess of Pittsburgh Saturday night time. It showed the likely of the group when it is at total strength. The gain also continues a development of earn 1, lose one as the Panthers have alternated wins and losses for the very last thirty day period.

Centers Return
Both of those Sam Bennett and Alexander Barkov arrived back from damage, and for the to start with time teamed up with Anthony Duclair who performed his fourth game this season. Bennett experienced maybe his very best match of the season scoring a aim and receiving 12 shot tries. He was also a furthermore two and threw 3 huge hits.

Barkov established up two of the team’s aims. The impact these two have and what their existence does for the rest of the lineup can not be undersold.

Bounce Back again
The Panthers have confirmed their character the past 2 months by coming again from losses with wins. They are 9–1 because New Year’s working day adhering to a regulation decline, lesding to them enjoying at a 100 point pace in excess of that time time period.

Wherever They Stand
The Panthers are in a mad scramble, 7 teams for two playoff places. 

Their situation proceeds to be the simple fact that they have performed additional video games than most of the other teams in the race. Which is why Saturday’s acquire more than Pittsburgh was a need to have. Teams typically make the playoffs if they access 98 points, whilst that is not certain. For the Panthers to get to 98, they have to go 14-4 the relaxation of the time. The margin for mistake is no for a longer time trim as it really is been for the final two months, the margin for mistake now is fundamentally gone. There are 5 far more game titles remaining on the present-day homestand.

Too A lot of Giveaways
If the Panthers drop small of the playoffs they will glimpse again at numerous video games they missing to non playoff groups. The final few months, regulation losses to St. Louis, Nashville (2 times) and Buffalo have put the Panthers in the place they are in now. They also shed video games in regulation early in the period to Philadelphia, Chicago, ArIzona and Columbus.