All they need is one more win and the Florida Panthers will clinch their first-ever Southeast Division title. They can do just that on Tuesday night when they host the Winnipeg Jets, their natural division rivals, at BankAtlantic Center in Sunrise.
It's all thanks to the Washington Capitals' loss on Monday evening to the Tampa Bay Lightning. That loss left the Caps with 88 points through 80 regular season games, and should the Panthers beat the Jets Tuesday, they'll sit with 93 points through 80 games. Since it's an 82 game season and you can't earn five points with two games remaining, this is how divisions are won.
By clinching, the Panthers would seal up the No. 3 seed in the Eastern Conference. It's likely they face the New Jersey Devils in the first round, but that's not yet guaranteed. The Devils have a magic number of three to guarantee at least the No. 6 seed in the Eastern Conference.
Regardless, with an Ottawa loss to Carolina Tuesday, a New Jersey win over the New York Islanders and a Florida win over Winnipeg, a Devils vs. Panthers first-round series will be clinched.
For more on the Panthers, check in with Litter Box Cats. For continued coverage of all the playoff race across the NHL, stick with our StoryStream.
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