Is an Eastern team finally going to take out Florida this year?

[SeanMoneyHands]

Or are the cup champs, 2x Eastern conference champs going to the SCF for the third time in a row?

I still don't see a threat in the Eastern Conference that can go toe to toe with Florida in a best of seven. Do you?

There is no team in the East that is built like Florida is for playoff hockey, top to bottom., front and back and with that much firepower.

Florida's biggest weakness will be whether or not they will have enough gas. So it should be easier this year for Eastern teams to take them out than in previous years.

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[tarheelhockey]

There’s always a threat once the playoffs start.

 

[HabzSauce]

I hate to admit but but TO looks like a threat this year. Their team is tougher and better built for playoffs.

 

[NyQuil]

*if reasonably healthy

 

[Pablo El Perro]

As a Panthers fan, we're a good team, but the question gives the team too much credit. Once the playoffs start, there aren't any sure things. See Boston a couple years ago.

In sum, nobody is the 70s Habs

 

[wickedwitch]

The one major disadvantage for Florida is that it's really rare to go to the finals in three consecutive years -- the extra games just takes a ton out of you. I think Tampa has been the only team to do it since the early 80s and that was with two Covid shortened seasons.

 

[Nogatco Rd]

The one major disadvantage for Florida is that it's really rare to go to the finals in three consecutive years -- the extra games just takes a ton out of you. I think Tampa has been the only team to do it since the early 80s and that was with two Covid shortened seasons.

Plus they had a ton of rest after their 2019 playoffs

 

[SladeWilson23]

There's a handful of teams in the East that can eliminate the Panthers.

 

[Hisch13r]

Yeah the other Florida team will do it.

 

[ijuka]

The one major disadvantage for Florida is that it's really rare to go to the finals in three consecutive years -- the extra games just takes a ton out of you. I think Tampa has been the only team to do it since the early 80s and that was with two Covid shortened seasons.

This is not the correct way to do statistics.

The reason is this: The probability of Panthers having gone to finals the past 2 seasons is 100%.

The population you can compare to is not all teams since the early 80s. The teams also need to have gone to finals the two previous years.

 

[Kalopsia]

This is not the correct way to do statistics.

The reason is this: The probability of Panthers having gone to finals the past 2 seasons is 100%.

The population you can compare to is not all teams since the early 80s. The teams also need to have gone to finals the two previous years.

He’s not talking about the probability of independent events like dice rolls or coin flips, he’s saying the third appearance is rare because the extra games played from first two take a toll. They’re dependent events.

Tampa’s the only team to do it since the Oilers had 3 straight appearances from 83-85. From 86 to now, teams have made the finals twice in a row 9 times (not counting Florida), and Tampa, with the aforementioned COVID caveat, is the only one to extend the streak to three appearances.

 

[John Mandalorian]

Doubtful. Florida’s confidence has to be on a level the other eastern teams can’t touch.

 

[ucanthanzalthetruth]

I think 2 factors will stop Florida from a 3rd straight finals:

1. Too much hockey. It's incredibly hard to make 3 finals and Florida has played so many games the past 2 years

2. The defense has taken a big hit without Montour and OEL. Florida was suffocating all year last year and this year they're playing north-south hockey like they did in '22. That style doesn't bode well for the playoffs. Of course Zito is the GOAT but Florida's limited draft capital will prevent them from the big top 4 dman trade deadline add they need imo.

 

[Xirik]

Not the Devils since they already won their cup apparently.